JK&T Wings Chosen for Retail Business of the Year Award by Local Chamber of Commerce

Early this year, JK&T Wings’ Wyoming, Michigan, BWW® location was nominated for the Retail Business of the Year award by their Chamber of Commerce peers.

By creating partnerships with local businesses and neighbors through the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, BWW made an incredible impact in their surrounding community. Whether it be through raising funds for the local Boys & Girls Club, hosting fundraisers, or participating and partnering with local businesses and organizations, JK&T Wings is out and about in its community helping as many residents as possible.

“Being a member of the chamber creates a chance to spread the word of events we can host, as well as other services our restaurant is useful for,” said Alyssa Groth, marketing manager for JK&T Wings, which is owned by Kent Ward and Jim Carmody.

The award was presented during a ceremony by the Chamber of Commerce. “We strive to be a great experience for all of our guests within these four walls and to be supportive of any of the groups in our community by being a good partner for them,” said general manager Eric Garrison in a video interview the chamber released.

“I think we are an institution now for this area and will hopefully continue to be,” said Garrison. “Anything we can do to extend our partnerships we want to do, and we look forward to 2018.”

From Cashier to Manager, BWW Employee Opens Ninth Location

On Oct. 6, High 5 Hospitality’s (H5H) team Christiana opened its ninth Buffalo Wild Wings® location in Newark, Delaware. The Stadia model restaurant includes two bars, 96 high definition TVs, a four-season room, 30 draft beers on tap and a sound system that takes the sports experience to the next level for the local community.

The opening week for the Christiana team was a huge success and generated over $105,000 in sales. The location owes much of its success to the 107 enthusiastic employees who run the restaurant and its general manager, Brittany McCardle.

McCardle began her career with High 5 Hospitality nine years ago as a cashier with the opening team at the Limestone Road Location in Wilmington, Delaware, before climbing the ladder and earning her stripes as a server, bartender and shift leader.

McCardle was promoted to assistant manager at H5H’s Newark, Delaware, location and eventually took the reins there as the general manager. She eventually took over the Limestone location for two months before the restaurant was relocated to the new Christiana location.

“This story is the ultimate model to the career opportunities and growth that High 5 Hospitality has to offer,” said Mark Trewartha, COO with High 5 Hospitality, which is owned by Bobby Pancake. “Over the last nine years, Brittany has worked relentlessly to achieve her success and is thrilled to lead Team Christiana as the new flagship Buffalo Wild Wings location under the High 5 Hospitality brand.”

JK&T Wings Inc. Sends Tasty Care Package to Soldiers

As a token of their gratitude to all the men and women who work hard to serve our country, a JK&T Wings Inc. location in Holland, Michigan wanted to reach out and personally thank these brave soldiers.MilitarySauces

On July 25, general manager of the Holland location, Brian Lemkie, reached out to Javier Gutierrez and asked him a simple question: what are his fellow soldiers’ favorite wing sauces from Buffalo Wild Wings? After receiving a response, Lemkie packed up a box of their favorite sauces and shipped them to the soldiers.

“I wanted to give Mr. Gutierrez and his fellow soldiers a taste of home as a small appreciation and a thank you for everything they do for our country,” said Lemkie.

“The package was received and a million thanks to the Buffalo Wild Wing franchise for being so generous and for the support,” said Gutierrez. “Thank you all so much.”

Here’s Wings Sponsors 12th Annual Buffalo Wild Wings Roundball Classic

RoundballClassic02In 2006, event director Dave Foltz approached his local Buffalo Wild Wings® in Hagerstown, Maryland, to see if it would be interested in being a small sponsor for a basketball tournament that was starting up that year, and the location agreed to take out a full-page ad in the event program.

Over the years, Buffalo Wild Wings’ involvement in the all-star tournament has grown, and in 2010 it became the presenting sponsor for the Buffalo Wild Wings Roundball Classic, which recently celebrated its 12th year.

The event has grown from a two-game tournament to a three-day, 13-game tournament that attracts over 400 players from 175 schools. Now the largest all-star tournament on the East Coast, the Roundball Classic boasts players from four states and Washington, D.C., and the 2017 event saw over 60 colleges that attended to scout players.

“It’s important to give back and support your communities as much as you can. In a world like today that is not always able to give, we simply find the way to,” said Andrea Shaffer, area marketing manager for RoundballClassic04the Here’s Wings, LLC-owned location. “Franchisee John Weiler has given us the opportunity to do this for years, and we won’t stop doing what we do. When the community thrives, so does your business.”

In addition to being the presenting sponsor, BWW also hosts an annual Roundball Classic Media Day where over 300 players and coaches come to the restaurant for photos, to fill out paperwork, be interviewed by the media and enjoy a meal at a special discount. In return, the BWW logo is featured on all event shirts, award plaques, programs and websites.

B-Dubs® also sponsors a Roundball Classic halftime hoop shoot where fans can win prizes.

“We do a lot to support the communities we’re in, but this is one of the longest relationships we’ve had so it’s near and dear to our hearts. To this day, we just feel good about the partnership, the people running it and what they stand for,” said Shaffer. “Dave Foltz is an educator and respected professional in the community and volunteers his time to make this tournament happen. Not only is this great for the kids, but they have given back thousands of dollars to very deserving charities over the years. It’s been a fantastic event for Hagerstown.”

High 5 Hospitality, LLC Holds Annual Awards Luncheon

Earlier this year, High 5 Hospitality, LLC held its annual awards luncheon; the event was well attended by restaurant managers, team members, vendors and community leaders and celebrated the performance results of 2016.

“It’s my favorite day of the year” said general manager of the Bear, Delaware, location Rob Thorpe.

The event recognized movers, shakers, risk takers and rising stars within the organization. Each restaurant was represented by a Most Valuable Team Member (MVTM) with Mark Williams from the Middletown, Delaware, location being named the overall “MVTM of the Year.”

Five team members – Josh Jenkins, Gary Morton, Mike Baker, Curtis Duty and Allie Ramos – were honored for celebrating their 10-year anniversary with High 5 Hospitality, and Pastor Robert Kossak, High 5 Hospitality chaplain, spoke on leadership and responsibility.

In addition, Colonel Ethan Griffin, wing commander from Dover Air Force Base, was featured as the keynote speaker and shared leadership ideas and kicked of the 2017 theme of “Lead the Way.”

While restaurants were recognized for results in specific financial performance, High 5 Hospitality and franchisee Bobby Pancake also honored individuals for their role in keeping the company moving forward:

  • Thom Kreusch Award: awarded to the management personnel who made the biggest impact during their first year with High 5 Hospitality. This Rookie of the Year-type award went to Mark Trewartha.
  • Hospitality Ambassador Award: awarded to the individual who exemplifies the “serve others well” value of High 5 Hospitality and is asked for by guests, embraced by team members, respected by their peers and recognized by their managers. This award went to Amanda GoodHart.
  • Rising Star Award: features people that are focused, determined and are rising to the top. Awards were presented to Steve Meek and Josh Ricks.
  • GM of the Year was awarded to Jeff Powell.
  • Restaurant of the Year was awarded to BWW Salisbury, located in Maryland, for the third year in a row.
The BWW location in Salisbury, Maryland, won restaurant of the year for the third year in a row.

The BWW location in Salisbury, Maryland, won restaurant of the year for the third year in a row.

KATAR Holdings Inc. Hosts Second Annual Cheese Stick Eating Contest for United Way

On Jan. 11, a Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurant in Ohio, played host to a cheese stick eating contest to benefit the United Way of Ashland County. The event, which made its debut last year, returned this year and featured an expanded field of 15 competitors.

The Buffalo Wild Wings in Ashland, Ohio, hosted the second annual Cheese Stick Eating Contest to benefit the United Way and saw a full house.

The Buffalo Wild Wings in Ashland, Ohio, hosted the second annual Cheese Stick Eating Contest to benefit the United Way and saw a full house.

The cost to enter the competition was $150, and the event also had raffle tickets available for purchase. Between the two sources of income, the contest raised around $2,500 for the United Way’s Caring for Our Own campaign – a 40 percent increase over last year’s total.

“We hope to grow this event even further with increased participation from the community, but we can’t help but be pleased with the amount raised, the turnout and the spirit evidenced by both the competitors and the sponsors,” said Brian Dill with Lake Erie Frozen Foods, who was a co-sponsor and provided the cheese sticks. “Ashland County is a great place to live and work, and when you have a chance to come out and raise money to help make it even better, it is a privilege.”

Ken Brown, left, and Brian Dill, right, pose for a photo with the winner of the contest, Ben Clark, who ate 28 cheese sticks in five minutes.

Ken Brown, left, and Brian Dill, right, pose for a photo with the winner of the contest, Ben Clark, who ate 28 cheese sticks in five minutes.

Out of the 15 competitors who were representing 11 local companies, Buffalo Wild Wings’ very own Ben Clark was crowned the winner, consuming 28 breaded mozzarella cheese sticks in the five-minute time limit – a number just one cheese stick shy of last year’s record of 29 cheese sticks, set by Richie Taylor. The runner-up in this year’s contest was Trevor Callaham, representing Diamond Pallets, who consumed 22 cheese sticks.

The Ashland, Ohio, B-Dubs® restaurant had relocated three weeks prior to the competition, and staff said that there was a lot of excitement between the new location and the contest. While an exact number of spectators was not kept, employees noted that the restaurant and patio were both full, and they believe the event increased sales.

“When Brian Dill approached me last year about the idea, I was a little unsure how people in the community would react to this type of fundraiser,” said KATAR Holdings Inc. franchisee Ken Brown. “I was surprised when I walked into the restaurant to see our back bar area packed with excitement. This year’s event was much better with the new location and extra space, and I look forward to next year’s event.”

Franchisee Spotlight: Brad Anderson

Brad Anderson

Anderson Management Group

Year Became a BWW Franchisee: 2005

Total Number of BWW Locations: 7

Total Number of Employees: 450 

Brad Anderson

What drew you to the brand? 

Our family has always been active in sports. We saw BWW® as an opportunity to get involved with a brand that could provide a great atmosphere to cater to the local sports community. Our three kids grew up with BWW and are now young adults working for the company.

What is your favorite thing about the brand?

Whether I am in Montana or out-of-state and people see me wearing the BWW logo, they will approach me with their favorite BWW story. It is so cool to be part of a brand that people are so passionate about.

What other concepts do you own?

Corner Bakery Cafe.

What are your current top three business goals?

Reduce employee turnover through implementation of a robust employee training program; increase gross margins via food and labor management; and increase targeting on LSM via youth sports tournaments and community events.

Describe your best recent business decision:

Coming together as a team to recognize and implement consistent practices that will drive our 2017 sales and profitability. This encompasses marketing, operations and HR.

What is the best business advice you have received?

Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.

Describe the biggest industry change since you started:

The rapid shift in guest perception regarding casual dining. We are challenged by the millennials and our ability as a brand to remain relevant.

Describe your current biggest challenge as a franchisee:

Government regulations. This starts at the federal level and trickles down to state and local agencies. 

What is your favorite BWW wing sauce?

Honey BBQ. Sometimes Medium.

If I weren’t a franchisee, I would be ….

In my first career, I was a mechanical engineer and returned later for my MBA. I often think about being a college business professor as I enjoyed the campus atmosphere and mentoring future entrepreneurs.

World Wide Wings Partners With Crayon Collection to Boost Arts Programming in Schools

Four World Wide Wings locations in southern California have partnered with a Los Angeles-based nonprofit to turn their restaurant’s trash into treasure for area school kids.

The Crayon Collection, founded in 2011, teams up with restaurants and hotels that distribute free crayons to children when they dine and reallocates them to schools and classrooms in need. Through the National Head Start Association and USA.org, the Crayon Collection has been able to provide millions of crayons to roughly 1,000 schools across the country.

This not only keeps the crayons out of landfills, but also supplements arts programming in schools where such programs may get cut due to underfunding.

The Crayon Collection aims to keep gently used crayons out of landfills and provide them to schools in need, along with arts programming.

The Crayon Collection aims to keep gently used crayons out of landfills and provide them to schools in need, along with arts programming.

“It’s a great program, and it is very easy for us to be able to contribute to a great cause,” said Holly Riggsby, area general manager for the Chino Hills location. “The employees react well to the program. Some have even brought in extra crayons from home and other jobs they have.”

Managers at the participating locations note that they collect anywhere from 20 to 50 crayons a day and that the process is fairly effortless. Participating B-Dubs® locations set up a box in the restaurant where employees put gently used crayons as they bus tables. A representative from the Crayon Collection then drops by every few months to empty out the donation box.

In addition to providing materials to schools, the Crayon Collection also teams up with local artists to create and provide teachers with lesson plans and instructional resources. Artists such as Kenny Scharf and Annie Lapin rotate out on a monthly basis coming up with a curriculum that implements the crayons and goes beyond simply coloring.

“It’s a great feeling to have our company take part in charitable aspects,” said Riggsby. “We definitely have the platform that can bring recognition to other charitable organizations.”

Buffalo Wild Wings® began partnering with the Crayon Collection when a representative from the nonprofit approached the West Covina location roughly three years ago. Management at that restaurant then reached out to other area B-Dubs. The Brea, Chino Hills and Rancho Cucamonga locations began participating last year.

Franchisee Spotlight: Cliff Sadowsky

Cliff SadowskyCliff Sadowsky
BWW Hedwig Village, LLC                           

Partner(s): Steve Chappelear
Year Became a BWW Franchisee: 2000
Total Number of BWW Locations: 5
Total Number of Employees: 275

How did you and your partner meet? 

He was a franchisee before I was – he was the first franchisee in Houston – and I was investigating franchising opportunities and visited with him.

What drew you to the brand?

It looked like a fun, casual atmosphere where people could come and have good entertainment at a reasonable price. It was a sports atmosphere, which I was interested in. If I was going to have ownership in something, I wanted it to be sports-related.

What is your favorite thing about the brand?

My favorite thing about Buffalo Wild Wings® is the atmosphere and the fact that people of all ages can and do come there. It’s not geared to just one type of person – it is accepted by young, old, everything in between and people of both sexes. It has got a very large demographic of people who will go there.

What are your current top three business goals?

To operate the business at the highest possible standards, to be a partner in the community for making the community a better place, and to always to be as profitable as possible and to create a business that is as valuable as we can make it.

What is the best business advice you have received?

The best business advice I ever received was from an executive vice president at a company I worked for before I franchised. He told me that I am entrepreneurial in nature and that I should follow that at some point in my life. He saw something back when I was much, much younger and felt it was appropriate to say that to me.

Describe the biggest industry change since you started.

I think that there is a tremendous amount of new competition whether it be local players, regional players or national players, and competition isn’t just wing places or sports places – it’s casual dining options who give people things in a similar price range as us that make it challenging for us to grow.

Describe your current biggest challenge as a franchisee.

The biggest challenge as a franchisee is to develop and retain talent to execute the business model at the highest level on a consistent basis.

What is your favorite BWW wing sauce?

Probably spicy garlic.

If I weren’t a franchisee, I would be

… A CPA. I am a CPA.           

Franklins’ Management Sponsors 12th Annual Race with Grace 5K

Franklin Management’s Medina, Ohio, location sponsored the 12th annual Race with Grace 5K in September and raised money for the Mary Grace Memorial Foundation, which helps cancer patients in the area.

Franklin Management’s Medina, Ohio, location sponsored the 12th annual Race with Grace 5K in September and raised money for the Mary Grace Memorial Foundation, which helps cancer patients in the area.

On Sept. 18, over 1,400 participants laced up their tennis shoes to support the Mary Grace Memorial Foundation at the 12th annual Race with Grace 5K. The event, held at Medina Hospital, aims to raise money to help members in the community that are battling any form of cancer. The foundation has assisted nearly 400 local families since its founding in 2005.

Franklins’ Management of Cleveland, LLC’s Medina, Ohio, BWW® location has sponsored the race for the last several years.

Three days before the race, Buffalo Wild Wings® hosted a packet pick-up where runners and walkers could come to the restaurant to grab their race bibs and shirts. Each of the 900 individuals who walked through the door to grab their items were also given an Eat Wings Raise Funds voucher. Twenty percent of proceeds from that evening were donated back to the Mary Grace Memorial Foundation – a figure totaling over $300.

On the day of the race, Buffalo Wild Wings set up a tent and handed out soft pretzels and oranges to participants at the finish line. Blazin’ Bill also made an appearance.

“The Mary Grace Memorial Foundation has helped so many families right in our own backyard, and these are families who are guests in our restaurant,” said franchisee Jerry Franklin. “We are honored to support an organization whose fundraising directly impacts those in our local community.”