Photo courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings
Officials didn’t mask their excitement as the international restaurant chain, Buffalo Wild Wings, broke ground on Vaughan Drive, across from Home Depot and fronting Interstate 20.
It marks the seventh location in the franchise group, which includes Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Trussville, Alabaster, Gadsden and Hoover. And it adds to the chain’s burgeoning list of expansions with more than 1,800 locations across the country and around the world. In 2015, its systemwide revenue topped $3.6 billion.
It makes other businesses take notice, said developer Bill Ellison, who helped recruit the restaurant to St. Clair County. You will often see other nationally known restaurants and businesses following suit.
Sterling Barbour, owner of the franchise, called it a “great location. It was the first site he showed us.”
Barbour said the decision to locate in Pell City was driven by two factors. “The community was underserved with sit down family restaurants.” And seven day sales of alcohol enhanced the decision- making.
“It is a perfect demographic for us. It’s the right time and the right place. It’s a good fit,” Barbour said, noting that it will be the restaurant’s first new stadia concept. “There’s not one just like this.”
Tim Spencer, area director for the franchise group, said it is “exciting to see the whole brand grow,” and he talked of the kinship of the restaurant to the community as did Sean O’Brien, who will be the general manager for the Pell City location. Involvement and assistance to charities and nonprofits through the business are hallmarks of the company, they said.
Spencer also talked of Ellison’s role in convincing Buffalo Wild Wings that Pell City was the place to be. “He was on it. He didn’t just push it for himself, he pushed for the city to get us here. He always talked about community.”
And Net Lease Alliance played a significant role as developer for the property, helping facilitate the final deal.
Pell City Mayor Joe Funderburg called it “a great benefit” to the area, providing an atmosphere of a nice restaurant that sports fans and families alike can enjoy.
“It is something we have been looking at for a long time, and it finally has come to fruition,” said Council President James McGowan. “We look for this type of establishment to do very well in Pell City.”
Councilwoman Dot Wood hinted at the future. “This is a project that had been going for a long time. Others should announce very shortly. It takes time for all these projects – longer than we want.”
“I’m glad it’s coming,” said Councilman Jay Jenkins. “It will attract traffic from town and off the interstate. It means more revenue for the city so we can do other things like this.”
“We’re excited about Pell City expanding this way,” added Chamber Executive Director Lisa Gaither. It demonstrates the caliber of restaurants looking to Pell City and bodes well for a more progressive future, she said.
“It’s a nationally recognized chain with extremely high volume, and they wouldn’t be here at all if not for seven day sales,” Ellison said, referring to Pell City’s recent passage of alcohol sales seven days a week.
“The day after the vote, I told them I thought they needed to look at Pell City. Two weeks later, they agreed to come.”
Opening is expected in late October or early November.
The menu features traditional chicken wings, boneless wings, and other items including chicken tenders, flatbreads, specialty hamburgers and sandwiches, wraps, Buffalito® soft tacos, appetizers and salads.
Source: Discover The Essence of St. Clair, August/September 2016
