When the new Buffalo Wild Wings opens in a few weeks in downtown Detroit it will create 100 jobs with the potential of bringing even more to Detroit.
Diversified Restaurant Holdings, which owns the
Buffalo Wild Wings and
Bagger Dave's franchises, began renovating the Odd Fellows building at the edge of Greektown early this year. The first two stories of the 4-story building at Monroe and Randolph streets will house a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and bar. That space will be able to seat 380 people. The whole operation will employ 100 people. The Buffalo Wild Wings is set to open on Dec. 8 and hiring staff has already begun in earnest.
Diversified Restaurant Holdings is renovating the upper two stories of the building into office space. The Southfield-based company is seriously considering moving its headquarters to the 7,500 square feet of space, a move that could bring another 18 jobs to downtown.
"That is still to be determined," says Michael Ansley, president & CEO of
Diversified Restaurant Holdings. "We're still thinking about it."
A decision is expected to be made by the new year. He adds that even if his company doesn't make the move the upper floors will be gutted and ready to be leased to someone else.
Diversified Restaurant Holdings has 11 Bagger Dave's, a hamburger restaurant franchise, across the Midwest. It also has 31 Buffalo Wild Wings franchises across the U.S. The downtown Detroit restaurant will be No. 32. Two more are expected to open elsewhere in the U.S. later this year.
Source: Michael Ansley, president & CEO of Diversified Restaurant Holdings
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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