Buffalo Wild Wings at Station 19 now open!

[MinneStoa]

Dinkytown has become a dump for franchise resturants and bars. Sally's, Big10, Stubs need the buisness. The things that make a lot of college campuses unique has faded fast in the last decase. So sad. Enjoy bdubs. I'll be somewhere else.

Are you really trying to complain about this? There are very few franchises in Dinkytown. Potbelly's, Qudoba, Bruegger's, McDonalds, Subway. That's about it. Local places heavily outnumber franchises. Please don't get into a "the sky is falling, things were better in my day" mentality.

 

[Gopher07]

Stadium Village has a good amount of chains now. Erbert and Gerbert's, Dairy Queen, Chipotle, Arby's, Raising Cane's, Burger King, Orange Julius, Domino's, and now BWW. Really though, only one of those (BWW) is a decent gameday option. The other good gameday options (Sterb's, Sally's, Campus Pizza) are still local places.

 

[dpodoll68]

I was really hoping we'd have yet another thread full of hipster doofuses complaining about chain restaurants, as the last thread about Buffalo Wild Wings, filled with hipster doofuses complaining about chain restaurants, clearly was not enough.

It must be my lucky day!

 

[buddylee853]

nm

 

[buddylee853]

I went last night, they had some free beer and giveaways. A friend of mine actually won a mini fridge. Otherwise it was just like any other bww I've ever been to. The over friendly staff and annoying tuba player kinda weirded me out.

Is the place Gopher-themed at all like the Applebees in the Radisson?

 

[The Gopher Way]

how many wings do they exactly get?

 

[Omega015]

I'm happy there is a bar there now -- just wish it was a bar unique to the University of Minnesota.

I agree with the second part of this statement.

 

[Omega015]

I was really hoping we'd have yet another thread full of hipster doofuses complaining about chain restaurants, as the last thread about Buffalo Wild Wings, filled with hipster doofuses complaining about chain restaurants, clearly was not enough.

It must be my lucky day!

I didn't realize it made me a hipster to want to retain some character and uniqueness on the campus. I know when I go visit other campuses I'm not looking for the BWW. I can do that in Plymouth or 20 other suburbs.

 

[dpodoll68]

I didn't realize it made me a hipster to want to retain some character and uniqueness on the campus. I know when I go visit other campuses I'm not looking for the BWW. I can do that in Plymouth or 20 other suburbs.

"Pissing and moaning about mainstream culture" is the very definition of hipster.

Maybe you should tell us next about how you "would never listen to any music that they play on the radio."

 

[gophergrad]

Is the place Gopher-themed at all like the Applebees in the Radisson?

Yeah there was some stuff. We sat underneath a Trent Tucker Chicago Bulls jersey. The frame kindly mentioned that Tucker went to the U.

 

[Dr.Don]

I didn't realize it made me a hipster to want to retain some character and uniqueness on the campus. I know when I go visit other campuses I'm not looking for the BWW. I can do that in Plymouth or 20 other suburbs.

While BWW may work, I will be damned if I will come to a Gopher game and go to BWW. I can sit in the comfort of my home, watch the game, drink beer, and BWW will deliver to me. Stub and Herb's is still the place..."Plenty of room in the basement!" Ever hear that at Stub and Herb's? I have.

 

[Gopher07]

Stub and Herb's is still the place..."Plenty of room in the basement!" Ever hear that at Stub and Herb's? I have.

Not before Iowa game. Lordy they take up a lot of space.

 

[Sir Tipsy McStagger]

While BWW may work, I will be damned if I will come to a Gopher game and go to BWW. I can sit in the comfort of my home, watch the game, drink beer, and BWW will deliver to me. Stub and Herb's is still the place..."Plenty of room in the basement!" Ever hear that at Stub and Herb's? I have.

Add to that, Stub & Herb's makes a better wing.

By wing standards, Stub's wings aren't anything to write home about, but they are far superior to the garbage that BWW tosses out in front of you. Being a connoisseur of wings, I have not found a truly awesome wing in Minnesota, but there are a few places around town that serve up a passable option - enough to get me by until I make another trip to the Northeast where people take their wing recipes seriously.

 

[Tater]

The Big 10 makes a very tasty and spicy buffalo chicken wing. Highly recommended.

 

[ruralgopher]

The thing that I've always wondered about BWW is if you are going to name and market yourself after a product, shouldn't that product be good??? I think that their burgers are decent, but in general think that the wings they serve are really subpar. TV's, beer, and general atmosphere are good though.

 

[LC19]

I'm laughing a the people bitching about another place to have a pre/post game beer because it doesn't fit your "coolness" factor. Especially a place that has TVs covering about every sq inch of the walls and will have a Gopher game on the main TVs 1st, rather then a Wild or Timberwolves game. You guys like sports, yeah? I believe they have 20 different beer on tap. Even saw PBR on tap.

Remind me why none of you "experts" are renting the place and making money with your cool bar ideas??? Haha. Just more of the same bitch and moan crowd I guess. Funny you bitch about not be local, but actually the BWW chain is based here in Minneapolis.

Also, the kitchen is in the basement, so yes, they are using 2 floors. And I saw people camping out on Saturday in tents getting in line for the free wings for a year.

 

[buddylee853]

Add to that, Stub & Herb's makes a better wing.

By wing standards, Stub's wings aren't anything to write home about, but they are far superior to the garbage that BWW tosses out in front of you. Being a connoisseur of wings, I have not found a truly awesome wing in Minnesota, but there are a few places around town that serve up a passable option - enough to get me by until I make another trip to the Northeast where people take their wing recipes seriously.

Ever been to Runyons downtown? They make a pretty damn good wing, IMO.

I'm curious to know why people think the wings are so bad at BWW's?? If the sauces are good, there's a decent amount of meat, and it tastes like chicken, then I feel I've won the F'in chicken wing lottery! I think some people don't like their food or service because they're letting the fact that it's a chain restaurant (albeit a Twin Cities-based one) overshadow those things

Let's just be happy there's a locally based sports bar, taking advantage of a historically significant space, that is U of M-themed and within a stone's throw from the stadium gates, shall we?

 

[Gopher07]

Love me some Runyons wings. Meaty, just enough spice. Sauce is really good.

 

[goldybobblehead]

I went there for lunch. Wing Tuesday! Atmosphere was good with some U jerseys and stuff on the wall, and it was bigger than I thought it would be from the outside. They have 30 tap beers which is more than any other BWW, so they are obviously trying to get the college market. The biggest problem, which is why I have a hard time seeing long term success, is that they have no parking. Street parking is a block away. No one would go there during a sports event just to "be close to the game" because you would have to pay event parking in a ramp nearby or walk a mile.

 

[Sir Tipsy McStagger]

I'm laughing a the people bitching about another place to have a pre/post game beer because it doesn't fit your "coolness" factor.... I believe they have 20 different beer on tap. Even saw PBR on tap.

Remind me why none of you "experts" are renting the place and making money with your cool bar ideas??? Haha. Just more of the same bitch and moan crowd I guess. Funny you bitch about not be local, but actually the BWW chain is based here in Minneapolis.

So young (judging by your writing) & so St. Louis Park...

I am happy that a chain that caters to the suburbanite opened. If nothing else it will thin out the crowd at other establishments where a customer isn't handcuffed to the same "20 Beers on tap" that a person can find from one end of the state to the other (and in most places across the country).

I think about the college towns I've visited and immediately have a bar or two that I associate with the town:

State College, PA - The 'skeller
West Lafayette - Harry's Chocolate Shoppe
Ann Arbor - Ashley's
Boulder, CA - The Sink
Athens, OH - The CI & The Cat's Eye Saloon
The list goes on...

We have Stub & Herb's and that is an institution that won't change anytime soon. I'm good with that, but I sure wouldn't mind another...

 

[Lemon Scented Jim]

I went there for lunch. Wing Tuesday! Atmosphere was good with some U jerseys and stuff on the wall, and it was bigger than I thought it would be from the outside. They have 30 tap beers which is more than any other BWW, so they are obviously trying to get the college market. The biggest problem, which is why I have a hard time seeing long term success, is that they have no parking. Street parking is a block away. No one would go there during a sports event just to "be close to the game" because you would have to pay event parking in a ramp nearby or walk a mile.

Parking is why that spot has always had a tough go of it I think. It did a lot better during the Station 19 days, but that is because they were always serving minors and getting in trouble for it.

 

[Sir Tipsy McStagger]

Runyon's does have some good wings - one of the better wings I've found in the Midwest.

A place that takes wings seriously should have 3 sauces (5 at most), crafted to perfection rather than the poured from a bottle slurry that you get at BWW.

 

[Omega015]

So young (judging by your writing) & so St. Louis Park...

I am happy that a chain that caters to the suburbanite opened. If nothing else it will thin out the crowd at other establishments where a customer isn't handcuffed to the same "20 Beers on tap" that a person can find from one end of the state to the other (and in most places across the country).

I think about the college towns I've visited and immediately have a bar or two that I associate with the town:

State College, PA - The 'skeller
West Lafayette - Harry's Chocolate Shoppe
Ann Arbor - Ashley's
Boulder, CA - The Sink
Athens, OH - The CI & The Cat's Eye Saloon
The list goes on...

We have Stub & Herb's and that is an institution that won't change anytime soon. I'm good with that, but I sure wouldn't mind another...

+1

As long as said chain doesn't replace our institution, then I couldn't have said it better.

 

[buddylee853]

Runyon's does have some good wings - one of the better wings I've found in the Midwest.

A place that takes wings seriously should have 3 sauces (5 at most), crafted to perfection rather than the poured from a bottle slurry that you get at BWW.

That could be true, but couldn't you also argue that an establishment with an insane amount of variety in their sauces, i.e. BWW, also takes their wings fairly seriously?

 

[Omega015]

"Pissing and moaning about mainstream culture" is the very definition of hipster.

Maybe you should tell us next about how you "would never listen to any music that they play on the radio."

I would, except the Taylor Swift songs playing on my iPod say otherwise.

 

[Maximus]

I'd avoid going there for about a month. Let them settle down. They were practically dry humping me yesterday. We get it...trying to make a good impression. It felt like I was having lunch with the entire staff.

 

[Dr. Lloyd Christmas]

That could be true, but couldn't you also argue that an establishment with an insane amount variety in their sauces, i.e. BWW, also takes their wings fairly seriously?

Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

[Gopher07]

Speaking of wings, I was a huge fan of Buffs Pub in Newton, MA when I lived out there. Any suggestions for wings in Chicago? From what I can tell thus far the city seems to be lacking in serious wing choices, but I haven't really been looking that hard.

 

[Sir Tipsy McStagger]

That could be true, but couldn't you also argue that an establishment with an insane amount variety in their sauces, i.e. BWW, also takes their wings fairly seriously?

If they took their wings seriously, they wouldn't taste like garbage. When I find one that fits that description, I'll let you know. Having 15 or 20 sauces is more a product of catering to everyone - honey mustard? teriyaki? spicy mango? None of these are Buffalo Wings.

Anchor Bar - Buffalo, NY - home of the wing. Mild, Medium, Hot, Suicidal: That is all you need.

Also, 45 cent wings makes it a special? You can get a decent wing at Mayslack's for less than that at regular prices.

 

[Dr. Lloyd Christmas]

Speaking of wings, I was a huge fan of Buffs Pub in Newton, MA when I lived out there. Any suggestions for wings in Chicago? From what I can tell thus far the city seems to be lacking in serious wing choices, but I haven't really been looking that hard.

I can't offer any suggestions for Chicago, but I think you are encountering the same Midwestern wing void that Tipsy described. As a general rule of thumb, the further east you go, the better the wings.