Buffalo's Cafe is an American restaurant chain known for its Buffalo-style chicken wings. Buffalo's Cafe began in 1985, as a single restaurant in Roswell, Georgia. In 1991, founders David Hyde and Ralph Perella began franchising the restaurant under the name Buffalo's Franchise Concepts Inc. (BFCI) The company had 40 locations by 1998. In 2001, the chain was renamed Buffalo's Southwest Cafe following the introduction of southwestern food. A location in Kuwait opened at the end of that year.
In 2006, the company launched a fast casual restaurant known as Buffalo's Express. Later that year, Perella sold BFCI to Texas native Drew Alexander and his business partner Shelli Lang, a Las Vegas resident. In 2011, the chain had been renamed Buffalo's Cafe, and was sold to Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc., which also owned Fatburger. Fog Cutter Capital Group subsequently opened several co-branded Fatburger/Buffalo's Express locations. In 2017, ownership of the chain was transferred to FAT Brands, a subsidiary of Fog Cutter Capital Group. The chain has locations in North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
History
Buffalo's Cafe (1985–2001)
Buffalo's Cafe was formed in 1985, by friends David Hyde and Ralph Perrella. They chose a western theme for their first restaurant, which was designed and built by Perella, who was a graduate of Georgia Tech and an architect with construction experience. According to Perella: "We wanted to make it look like it had been there for 30 years. We created a rustic décor to capture the feel of an old Southwest café, with rough wood floors, distressed metal ceilings, American antiques, artifacts, memorabilia and hundreds of period photographs lining the wooded walls."
Hyde and Perella opened their first Buffalo's Cafe in Roswell, Georgia, on October 26, 1985. The restaurant was named for its signature item: Buffalo-style chicken wings. By 1990, there were four Buffalo's Cafe locations operating in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Franchising began the following year, under the name Buffalo's Franchise Concepts Inc. (BFCI). In 1995, the Atlanta-based company had 35 restaurants, located in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Sixteen of its locations were in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
By the end of 1995, the company planned a rapid expansion throughout the Southeast United States that would add 16 new franchised restaurants over the next 18 months, with a total of 100 locations expected in three years. In late 1997, Ray Cabana was named as BFCI's new president, director, and chief executive; he had previously served as chief executive and president of Johnny Rockets for four years before joining Buffalo's as a consultant in 1996.
As of 1998, the chain had 40 restaurant locations. The company planned to have 100 locations by 2000, and signed development agreements for the Midwestern United States, as well as Indonesia and Egypt. The company opened its first restaurant in Puerto Rico in December 1998. In 2000 the chain launched a $1 million promotional campaign for its 46 restaurants. The campaign included a cowboy character used as a family-oriented spokesperson in radio and television commercials.
Buffalo's Southwest Cafe (2001–2011) In May 2001, the Buffalo's Cafe name was changed to Buffalo's Southwest Cafe to reflect new southwestern food items added to the menu, while retaining Buffalo wings. Restaurant facilities were also updated to include a new design by Perella. The company opened a restaurant in Kuwait, in December 2001.
In 2003, the company expanded to Indiana. At the end of 2003, the company announced plans to open its first Texas location in late 2004, in Houston. Texas was a major component of the company's expansion plan, and several sites in northwestern Houston were being evaluated. During 2006, the company launched Buffalo's Express, a fast casual restaurant concept. The company also began construction on a restaurant location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
During 2006, the company also planned to add two new Nevada locations, in Pahrump and Ely. The Pahrump location was proposed by Texas native Drew Alexander, along with business partner and Las Vegas resident Shelli Lang. The pair owned locations in Las Vegas and Mesquite, Nevada, and had been partners for 14 years, previously as franchisees for Hair Club for Men. Alexander became involved in the company three years earlier when he purchased a franchise territory in Nevada.