What are Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars known for, considering Cinnabon's affiliation?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Buffalo Wild Wings is a franchisor of sports entertainment-oriented casual sports bars that feature chicken wings, sandwiches, and other products, alcoholic and other beverages, and related services under Buffalo Wild Wings® name ("Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars") and restaurants that feature chicken wings and other food and beverage products primarily for offpremises consumption under the Buffalo Wild Wings GO name ("BWW-GO Restaurants"). Buffalo Wild Wings has offered franchises for Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars since April 1991 and for BWW-GO Restaurants since December 2020. As of December 29, 2024, there were 1,183 Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars operating in the United States (538 franchised and 645 company-owned) and 65 franchised Buffalo Wild Wings or B-Dubs restaurants operating outside the United States.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 9–25)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cinnabon FDD, Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars are known as sports entertainment-oriented casual sports bars. These establishments feature chicken wings, sandwiches, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and related services under the Buffalo Wild Wings® name. As of December 29, 2024, there were 1,183 Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars operating in the United States, with 538 being franchised and 645 company-owned. Additionally, there were 65 franchised Buffalo Wild Wings or B-Dubs restaurants operating outside the United States.
Buffalo Wild Wings is an affiliated program of Cinnabon through Inspire Brands, Inc., a global multi-brand restaurant company. Inspire Brands is the parent company to Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc., among other franchisors like Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and Sonic. This affiliation means that while Cinnabon franchisees won't directly operate a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise, they are part of a larger network of franchise systems under the Inspire Brands umbrella.
For a prospective Cinnabon franchisee, this affiliation indicates the potential for shared resources, best practices, and industry knowledge within the Inspire Brands network. However, it's important to note that none of the affiliated franchisors are obligated to provide products or services to Cinnabon franchisees, although franchisees may choose to purchase from them. This relationship highlights the scale and scope of the parent company, Inspire Brands, and its influence in the franchise industry.