Diversified Restaurant Holdings, Inc., the owner, operator, and franchisor of Bagger Dave's Legendary Burgers Tavern Bagger Dave's and a leading franchisee for Buffalo Wild Wings, announced today it has signed long-term leases for two new Buffalo Wild Wings(R) locations in Ybor City, Florida, and Lapeer, Michigan.
DRH is highly selective regarding restaurant locations and targets opportunities that are within close proximity to high-traffic venues such as movie theaters, mass merchandisers, and large retailers in a well-anchored shopping or lifestyle entertainment center.
The Florida BWW site, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2012, will be located on 7th Avenue, the main commercial thoroughfare in Ybor City, recognized as one of the "10 Great Streets in America" by the American Planning Association. The neighborhood has been designated as a National Historic Landmark District, with a large portion of the original neighborhood being redeveloped into an entertainment district.
"With two well-established and successful Buffalo Wild Wings locations already in the Tampa Bay area (Brandon and Riverview), this new Ybor City location will solidify DFRH's presence,” says T. Michael Ansley, president and CEO of DRH. “Once completed, the Buffalo Wild Wings Ybor City location will become one of the largest restaurants in the historic district having the capacity to serve 235 guests."
The Michigan BWW site, scheduled to open in 2013, will be located in the Lapeer Marketplace, a large shopping center in close proximity to major retailers and entertainment complexes.
"We've experienced much success in Michigan, and it remains a key market for us to deliver on our future expansion plans,” Ansley says. “This site is consistent with our location selection criteria as it is in a prime area that has a vibrant community with significant growth opportunity.”
DRH has 30 restaurants (29 corporate-owned and one franchised), which includes 22 BWW and eight Bagger Dave's locations, with plans to have a total of 35 restaurants operating by year's end. DRH continues to expand its Buffalo Wild Wings operations in Michigan and Florida with plans to operate a total of 38 BWW restaurants by 2017.
Additionally, DRH is aggressively expanding the Bagger Dave's concept through a combination of corporate-owned and franchised locations throughout the Midwest, with plans to open three additional corporate locations in 2012.
