Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998

Bars set for competitor

By JENNIFER NEJMAN
Collegian Staff Writer

Competition is one of the reasons why people love watching sports.

However, local sports bar restaurants may find that come next season, they will have not only competition on the big screens, but also in the Centre Region.

Yet, most of the sports bar restaurants in the area said they were up to the challenge of competing for patrons.

A new restaurant, bw-3/Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, is making tentative plans to open in downtown State College, possibly at 234 W. College Ave., the former site of a Pizza Hut.

"The Penn State area is a place we're looking at for franchising possibilities," said John Hinz, national marketing manager for bw-3/Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar.

People cross College Avenue in front of the building at the corner of Burrowes Street that used to house Pizza Hut. The building, which has been vacant for months, may soon be transformed into a sports bar. (Collegian Photo/Thomas D. Hood - click for full size image)

Preliminary preparations are already underway at 234 W. College Ave., a lot that has been vacant for more than a year, said Ed Friedman, building owner.

But the threat of more wings in State College doesn't floor local sports bars and restaurants.

"We really haven't given them much thought because our clientele is not just students -- we have a lot of regulars," said Celesta Prop, manager of Champs Sports Bar & Grill, 1611 N. Atherton St. "We feel that Champs is unique enough that we will out-survive a chain."

Prop said customers at Champs have advantages chain customers don't because they can select the sports they want to watch and enjoy a variety of food in a unique atmosphere, Prop said.

"Our food selection isn't just wings, so we do survive very well," Prop said.

Both representatives of Champs Sport Bar & Grill and Damon's Restaurant, 1031 E. College Ave., said their individual menus and restaurant atmosphere would be enough to allow them to remain forerunners in the area.

The contenders also remain sure of their dedicated clientele and drive to stay competitive.

"I don't think we're all that worried," said Adrienne Giancola, assistant general manager at Damon's Restaurant.

However, nothing has been finalized as far as whether the sports bar will be located at the West College Avenue location, Hinz said.

"It's not only choosing a site or area, it's choosing a person (to run) the right franchise," Hinz said.

The bw-3/Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar franchise began at Ohio State University in 1981 and has since opened 78 restaurants nationwide, Hinz said. The restaurant's name is in the process of changing from bw-3/Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, as it is called in the Midwest, to simply Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Hinz said.