Is Buffalo Wild Wings Private Equity Owned?
Buffalo Wild Wings
Includes BWW, B-Dubs, BW3
casual dining · Atlanta, GA
“Wings got absorbed into a PE buying spree. The only thing wild now is the overhead.”
The PE Playbook
- •Roark's Inspire Brands acquired Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.9 billion in 2018, then immediately cut 132 corporate jobs — more than a quarter of HQ staff
- •Corporate headquarters consolidated from Golden Valley, MN to Inspire's Atlanta HQ; entire executive team replaced
- •Closed all Canadian locations and approximately 60 U.S. locations in 2024; revenue declined 3.2% year-over-year
- •Faced class-action lawsuits over hidden takeout service fees and misleading consumers about 'boneless wings'
Since the Acquisition
- ▸Wing prices have roughly doubled since 2010 — a 20-piece order went from $20 to $28, cheese curds from $6.79 to $11.49, and a casual dinner for two can clear $60 before drinks
- ▸Customers report 20-30 minute waits just to place an order, with chronic understaffing so bad that one viral video showed diners calling the restaurant's phone from their table to get a server's attention
- ▸All 12 Canadian locations and approximately 60 U.S. locations closed in recent years, including spots shut down by health departments before permanently closing
- ▸Trustpilot rating sits at 1.6 out of 5 — the recurring pattern in reviews is wrong orders, cold food, and servers who have too many tables to care
Sources
Also owned by Roark Capital
More in Restaurants
Get notified
Stay in the loop. No spam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buffalo Wild Wings owned by private equity?
Yes. Buffalo Wild Wings is currently owned by Roark Capital, which acquired it in 2018. Wings got absorbed into a PE buying spree. The only thing wild now is the overhead.
What happened to Buffalo Wild Wings after the acquisition?
Wing prices have roughly doubled since 2010 — a 20-piece order went from $20 to $28, cheese curds from $6.79 to $11.49, and a casual dinner for two can clear $60 before drinks Customers report 20-30 minute waits just to place an order, with chronic understaffing so bad that one viral video showed diners calling the restaurant's phone from their table to get a server's attention
Who owns Buffalo Wild Wings?
Buffalo Wild Wings is owned by Roark Capital, which acquired it in 2018.