Buffalo's Cafe

Buffalo's Cafe is an American restaurant chain known for its Buffalo-style chicken wings. Buffalo's Cafe began in 1985, as a single restaurant in Roswell, Georgia. In 1991, founders David Hyde and Ralph Perella began franchising the restaurant under the name Buffalo's Franchise Concepts Inc. (BFCI) The company had 40 locations by 1998. In 2001, the chain was renamed Buffalo's Southwest Cafe following the introduction of southwestern food. A location in Kuwait opened at the end of that year.

Buffalo's Cafe
FormerlyBuffalo's Southwest Cafe (2001–2011)
IndustryRestaurants
FoundedOctober 26, 1985 (1985-10-26) in Roswell, Georgia, United States
FoundersDavid Hyde and Ralph Perella
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California (FAT Brands Inc.)
Areas served
  • Asia
  • Middle East
  • North America
Key people
Shaun Curtis (chief operating officer)[1]
ParentFAT Brands
Websitebuffalos.com

In 2006, the company launched a fast casual restaurant known as Buffalo's Express. Later that year, Perella sold BFCI to Texas native Drew Alexander and his business partner Shelli Lang, a Las Vegas resident. In 2011, the chain had been renamed Buffalo's Cafe, and was sold to Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc., which also owned Fatburger. Fog Cutter Capital Group subsequently opened several co-branded Fatburger/Buffalo's Express locations. In 2017, ownership of the chain was transferred to FAT Brands, a subsidiary of Fog Cutter Capital Group. The chain has locations in North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

History

Buffalo's Cafe (1985–2001)
A Buffalo's Cafe in Cartersville, Georgia

Buffalo's Cafe was formed in 1985, by friends David Hyde and Ralph Perrella. They chose a western theme for their first restaurant, which was designed and built by Perella, who was a graduate of Georgia Tech and an architect with construction experience. According to Perella: "We wanted to make it look like it had been there for 30 years. We created a rustic décor to capture the feel of an old Southwest café, with rough wood floors, distressed metal ceilings, American antiques, artifacts, memorabilia and hundreds of period photographs lining the wooded walls."[2]

Hyde and Perella opened their first Buffalo's Cafe in Roswell, Georgia, on October 26, 1985.[3][4][5] The restaurant was named for its signature item: Buffalo-style chicken wings.[6] By 1990, there were four Buffalo's Cafe locations operating in the metropolitan Atlanta area.[7] Franchising began the following year, under the name Buffalo's Franchise Concepts Inc. (BFCI).[2][7] In 1995, the Atlanta-based company had 35 restaurants, located in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Sixteen of its locations were in the metropolitan Atlanta area.[7]

By the end of 1995, the company planned a rapid expansion throughout the Southeast United States that would add 16 new franchised restaurants over the next 18 months, with a total of 100 locations expected in three years. In late 1997, Ray Cabana was named as BFCI's new president, director, and chief executive; he had previously served as chief executive and president of Johnny Rockets for four years before joining Buffalo's as a consultant in 1996.[8]

As of 1998, the chain had 40 restaurant locations. The company planned to have 100 locations by 2000, and signed development agreements for the Midwestern United States, as well as Indonesia and Egypt.[9] The company opened its first restaurant in Puerto Rico in December 1998.[10] In 2000 the chain launched a $1 million promotional campaign for its 46 restaurants. The campaign included a cowboy character used as a family-oriented spokesperson in radio and television commercials.[11]

Buffalo's Southwest Cafe (2001–2011)

In May 2001, the Buffalo's Cafe name was changed to Buffalo's Southwest Cafe to reflect new southwestern food items added to the menu, while retaining Buffalo wings.[2][12] Restaurant facilities were also updated to include a new design by Perella.[2] The company opened a restaurant in Kuwait, in December 2001.[10]

In 2003, the company expanded to Indiana.[13] At the end of 2003, the company announced plans to open its first Texas location in late 2004, in Houston. Texas was a major component of the company's expansion plan, and several sites in northwestern Houston were being evaluated.[14] During 2006, the company launched Buffalo's Express, a fast casual restaurant concept.[15][16] The company also began construction on a restaurant location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[17]

During 2006, the company also planned to add two new Nevada locations, in Pahrump[18][19] and Ely.[20] The Pahrump location was proposed by Texas native Drew Alexander, along with business partner and Las Vegas resident Shelli Lang.[18][16] The pair owned locations in Las Vegas and Mesquite, Nevada, and had been partners for 14 years, previously as franchisees for Hair Club for Men.[16] Alexander became involved in the company three years earlier when he purchased a franchise territory in Nevada.[17]

In December 2006, Perella sold BFCI to Alexander and Lang. Under the new ownership, Alexander would become company president and chief operating officer; Lang would serve as vice president, secretary, and treasurer; and Perella would become a consultant. The sale included the new Buffalo's Express concept, which was to be expanded. The company would remain based in Marietta, while opening sales offices in Las Vegas. At the time, the chain had 38 restaurants, located in 10 states, Puerto Rico, and Kuwait; 34 locations were franchised and the other 4 were company-owned and located in Georgia.[16][17][21][15] Because of the Great Recession, the company reduced some of its expansion plans.[22]

Buffalo's Cafe (2011–present)

During 2011, the restaurant chain had reverted to its "Buffalo's Cafe" name. Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc., which owned Fatburger, announced in December 2011 that it had acquired Buffalo's Cafe and Buffalo's Express Cafe. At the time, the chain had 26 U.S. locations, in Georgia, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, and Texas, as well as five locations in Kuwait and one in Riyadh.[23][24] Fog Cutter Capital Group had been interested in the company because of its potential for growth in the Middle East. In 2012, Fog Cutter Capital Group opened a co-branded Fatburger/Buffalo's Express in Los Angeles, in part as a display for international franchisees. The co-branded location had a 33 percent increase over average revenues for standalone locations, which ignited interest among U.S. franchisees for additional Fatburger/Buffalo's Express locations. By September 2013, six co-branded locations had opened while an additional 36 were under development.[25]

In 2017, ownership of Fatburger and Buffalo's Cafe was transferred to FAT Brands, a wholly owned subsidiary formed by Fog Cutter Capital Group and based in Los Angeles. FAT Brands succeeded BFCI.[26][27] Buffalo's Express expanded to Singapore in September 2018, with the opening of co-branded Fatburger restaurants.[28] Buffalo's Cafe operates 14 restaurants in Georgia, as well as one in Riyadh and two in Doha, Qatar.[29] There are 19 Fatburger/Buffalo's Express locations in California; 13 locations in Canada; two in the Philippines; and one each in Dubai and Malaysia.[30]

Buffalo's Sinkhole

In August 2002, a Buffalo's Southwest Cafe in Hickory, North Carolina was closed after two sinkholes opened in the restaurant's parking lot following record rainfall.[31][32][33] A Chevrolet Corvette fell into one of the sinkholes.[33] The restaurant reopened in 2003, after nine months of repairs to remove the sinkholes.[32][34] The restaurant owner believed that the sinkhole incident would increase business, but it did not,[35] and the restaurant eventually closed in May 2004.[32] The franchisee then sued the city, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the previous owners of the land over the issue of the sinkhole,[36] which would become known as Buffalo's Sinkhole.[37][38][39][40][41] A sinkhole opened again in the parking lot in July 2005, following Hurricane Cindy.[32][42] The lawsuit was settled in 2007 and the restaurant was demolished later that year,[37][43] while Buffalo's Sinkhole remained an issue as of 2016, posing a risk to the nearby Highway 70.[40][41]

References
  1. Smith Welch, Karen (February 28, 2015). "Welch: Buffalo's Cafe is back". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  2. "The Company". Buffalo's Franchise Concepts, Inc. Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  3. "News". The Atlanta Constitution. October 10, 1985. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Western cafe serves Northern wings". The Atlanta Constitution. May 7, 1987. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "About Buffalo's Cafe". Facebook. Retrieved September 21, 2018. Founded on October 26, 1985
  6. "Rustic Buffalo's Cafe a Good Place to Unwind". The Atlanta Constitution. July 21, 1988. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Roush, Chris (December 2, 1995). "Buffalo's plans franchise expansion". The Atlanta Constitution. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Business in Brief: Buffalo's chain names new chief". The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution. December 3, 1997. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  9. "Buffalo's Cafe moves forward on franchising". The Atlanta Constitution. August 29, 1998. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Marietta-based Franchise Restaurant Opens in Kuwait". Global Atlanta. January 15, 2002. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  11. Siebert, T.W. (May 29, 2000). "Buffalo Cafe Cracks the Whip". Adweek. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  12. Stephens, Erica (April 29, 2001). "Buffalo's Cafe ad campaign includes new name". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  13. "Marietta-based Buffalo's cafe opens Ind. site". Marietta Daily Journal. July 30, 2003. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  14. "Buffalo's Café opens franchise in Houston". Marietta Daily Journal. December 10, 2003. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  15. "Franchisee buys Buffalo's franchisor". Nation's Restaurant News. January 17, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  16. "Two franchisees buy Buffalo's wings chain". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 18, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Primeau, Marty (December 23, 2006). "Amarillo, Texas, businessman buys restaurant company". Amarillo Globe-News. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via HighBeam.
  19. Gomez, Phillip (May 12, 2006). "Buffalo's Southwest Café gets approval". Pahrump Valley Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2006. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  20. "Buffalo Southwest Cafe plans to open Ely store". The Ely Times. June 23, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  21. "Nevadans buy parent of Buffalo s Cafe". Las Vegas Business Press. January 17, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  22. Welch, Karen Smith (April 22, 2011). "Drew Alexander: City needed other choice". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  23. "Acquisition of Buffalo's Cafe Restaurant Chain by Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc's Franchise Development Subsidiary". Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. December 1, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  24. Jennings, Lisa (December 5, 2011). "Fatburger parent Fog Cutter acquires Buffalo's Café". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  25. Jennings, Lisa (September 4, 2013). "Fatburger partners with Buffalo's Café for 'saucy' burgers". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  26. "FAT Brands Inc. Announces Fiscal Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results". Business Wire. November 29, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  27. Trinh, Jean (October 4, 2017). "Fatburger Fans Now Can Own a Piece of the South L.A. Chain". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  28. "Fatburger Opens First Locations in Singapore". Associated Press. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  29. "Buffalo's Cafe Locations". Buffalo's Cafe. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  30. "Buffalo's Express & Fatburger Locations". Buffalo's Express. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  31. Mitchell, Monte (August 2002). "Getting larger by the minute". Hickory Daily Record. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  32. Newell Williamson, Sarah (May 9, 2010). "Sinkhole timeline". Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  33. "Massive sinkholes have forced restaurant in Hickory to close". Star-News. Associated Press. August 26, 2002. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  34. "Restaurant Closed Because of Sinkhole Will Reopen After Nine Months". WFMY-TV. May 25, 2003. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  35. "Sinkhole Comes Up Empty As a Marketing Tool, Owner Says Restaurant May Take 3 to 5 Years to Recover from Losses". The Charlotte Observer. December 10, 2003. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  36. "Owners Sue Over Shuttered Eatery". The Charlotte Observer. September 26, 2004. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  37. "Lawsuit Over Sinkhole Is Settled". Winston-Salem Journal. January 14, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary. The lawsuit over the notorious Buffalo's sinkhole ended in a settlement late Friday.
  38. "Holey sinkhole, Hickory: This month marks 5th anniversary of first appearance". Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News. August 5, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary. What began as a comical oddity has long been an embarrassment and eyesore to many. The Buffalo's sinkhole saga has been an ongoing topic of conversation for five years.
  39. Gould, Richard (May 20, 2011). "Hickory sinkhole being repaired". Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved September 21, 2018. The Buffalo's sinkhole, as it has become known, remains a gaping overgrown pit behind a chain link fence nearly nine years after it first appeared.
  40. Ohnesorge, Steve (September 5, 2013). "Problems again at the Buffalo Sinkhole in Hickory?". WBTV. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  41. Ohnesorge, Steve (June 20, 2016). "A possible fix on the way for the famous Hickory sinkhole?". WBTV. Retrieved September 21, 2018. Hickory City Council will consider spending money this week to partner with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to find a fix for the famous Buffalo's Sinkhole.
  42. "Sinkholes Hit Eateries Past, Present". The Charlotte Observer. July 8, 2005. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
  43. "Bye-bye Buffalo's: Owner is a 1-man wrecking crew". Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News. August 3, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via NewsLibrary.
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