Wild Wings and Weck

Known to many by their slogan, “wings, beer, sports,” Buffalo Wild Wings has an upbeat and friendly atmosphere, even on a Tuesday night. We arrived just in time to watch Team USA take on Jamaica in the World Cup Soccer qualifying match. As it was a weeknight, the bar was less rambunctious than we were used to, but a pretty good turn-out nonetheless. Chants of “USA! USA!” and “Gomie! The Herc!” intermingled with the clink of dinnerware and the snuffling of Colton's head cold.

Downtown, close to student dorms, right off a major city road, and accessible to all; it's the perfect location. Offering a multifunctional space, this Buffalo Wild Wings, or BW3, is at once both a sports bar and a casual dining environment. Split into two sides, one has the option of a quieter, family-friendly space, or a more rowdy bar section. BW3 supplies Athens and OU with a central meeting place for all ages, those that are 21 and those that are not. Students are able to talk, get a bite to eat, or grab a drink, all while watching their favorite sports team. With TVs wall-to-wall, you’re almost guaranteed to find the sporting event you’re looking for.

Athens is generally considered to be about half non-native undergraduate students, and half “townies,” all of whom could be found at BW3. On weekends, when the Ohio Bobcats tend to play American football, we've often noticed an older, more local crowd of fans and enthusiasts – even radio hosts occasionally utilize the space for their broadcasts. Soccer, or “futbol,” tends not to be as popular amongst rural mid-westerners, which we believe accounts for the student-heavy ratio we encountered that evening.

Interestingly, the game was being played in Columbus, which also happens to be the birthplace of this chain. Nearly ubiquitous nationwide, most Ohio University students have already been to another location, back home or otherwise. This is undoubtedly the main appeal of visiting a chain restaurant; it's comfortable. The Athens location is in fact so typical of the chain, its visage even appears on the wikipedia article (see attached picture). Our friend Scott considers the restaurant his “fave,” and cites the consistency of the menu as the main reason. “I always get mild, traditional wings,” he says, “because they're dope. Honestly, I don't even like sports.”

In some communities, the presence of national chains can be a point of pride, a justification of their importance as consumers. In rural south-eastern Ohio, families who often eat at home to save money might view this restaurant as a “big deal,” an example of “city dining”. Between the students who might care for a “taste of home” or some “dope chicken,” and families from the surrounding area on a night out, this location must see a lot of business. We certainly enjoyed ourselves, and will be back again soon.

by Colton B. Creal and Truman F. Hatch, Paris '09