Buffalo Wild Wings

[stumpers]

I found my first restaurant that I like in my city that bans guns on their premises. Buffalo Wild Wings in Eau Claire, WI. I knew other BWWs banned guns, but I just noticed the sign at my local franchise last night.

I felt compelled to write to them about their policy and I feel that if any of you on THR are of like or similar mind, you should take a few minutes and go online and give them some feedback.

I rarely say much about anything, but I actually like BWWs but abhor their gun policy and would like to patronize them if they change their policy.

Here is the text of the message I left on the feedback section of their website:


To Whom It May Concern,

On my most recent visit to Buffalo Wild Wings a member of my group directed my attention to the notice near the front entrance that states "Buffalo Wild Wings bans guns..."

Why does Buffalo Wild Wings ban the state-licensed, lawful carry of guns by its customers?

I have been a very frequent customer of Buffalo Wild Wings for the past few years, visiting the Eau Claire, Wisconsin location once every week or two. I appreciate the food quality and generally great service, but had I noticed the "no guns" sign previously, I would not have continued to patronize Buffalo Wild Wings.

I will not visit Buffalo Wild Wings again until the gun policy is changed.

There are numerous other places in Eau Claire, including taverns, bars and grills, and restaurants that serve alcohol, that do allow patrons to carry firearms in accordance with state law. Most businesses in the city post "guns and alcohol don't mix" signs, but Buffalo Wild Wings's outright banning of guns is a step too far and an unwelcome policy in a state where approximately 100,000 citizens are licensed to carry concealed weapons.

Thank you in advance for a response on this issue. I am curious as to why this policy exists, what its intended purpose is, and what it has accomplished for Buffalo Wild Wings and its patrons.

Sincerely,

Chris Stump

 

[stumpers]

And the near instant response from Buffalo Wild Wings (which is probably a standard, canned response that fails to address me, personally, in a standard, respectful manner, fails to address what should be the most important thing to BWWs - keeping a customer, and at the minimum, address the reasons why they have the policy) :

Hello

Buffalo Wild Wings respects the right of individuals to carry firearms but we do not believe they are appropriate inside of a public restaurant. We are focused on the comfort, safety and enjoyment of all of our guests and have elected to exercise our right to restrict the carrying of firearms in our restaurants. We regret any inconvenience this may cause but believe that this policy is in the best interest of all of our guests and our Team Members.

Kind Regards,

Guest Relations
Buffalo Wild Wings
5500 Wayzata Blvd.
Suite 1600
Minneapolis, MN 55416
800-499-9586

 

[mnhntr]

Funny no sign on my local BWW

 

[hso]

We have had other BWW threads before and we usually find the franchise has made a decision to post or not. Please make sure that you're focused on the franchise and not the corporate is you want the most benefit. Point out that permit holders are a good demographic because they follow the law, have some discretionary money to spend, have no history of violence or they couldn't get a permit AND that the people they they're actually worried about aren't permit holders.

 

[stumpers]

hso - Thanks, I should have said something about permit holders being a good demographic and will use that in the future with any similar issue.

Also, the response I got was from corporate, which is odd since some BWWs are not posted.

 

[hso]

The ones here aren't.

 

[Erik M]

The BWW in Morehead KY does not have any signs prohibiting firearms on the premises....however

http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/conceal.htm

A concealed firearm SHALL NOT be carried in the following places:

Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense beer or alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to that purpose.

Is a sports bar, and who is to decide what the portions are?

 

[justice06rr]

Erik, as far as I know, the actual bar counter is the portion of the restaurant prohibited from firearms. The rest of the restaurant is ok because they still serve food.

 

[loose noose]

I believe Justice is correct in his assumption, further if you have alcohol at your booth you are not allowed to carry.

 

[stumpers]

Just to follow up and clarify: corporate BWW's policy is no guns, but not all locations are corporate and the franchise BWWs set policy at their own discretion?

 

[txgunsuscg]

All the BWWs I've been into in VA have them. I'll have to start looking in other states....

 

[blarby]

If the corporate policy is no guns, I don't see a problem addressing them as a group.

If the franchise policy is no guns, I see no problem addressing them as a group either.

The franchise fee still goes to the corp either way.

They benefit mutually ( franchise to franchise, and corp to franchise, and franchise to corp) from shared advertising, corporate philosophy, and branding. they should pain from the same.

The franchisee knows what they are buying into, one way or the other. Enough pressure on either side, if they were really concerned ( which obviously, they are not) would cause change across the board. Franchisee's can be held/forced to adhere to standards of operations and performance.

Thats just me tho. Obviously, some disagree.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I live in the deep South and the franchise here has no such sign.

 

[bikerdoc]

It is legal to carry concealed in Va, in an Alcohol establishment as long as the CCW holder does not drink. If the joint is posted and you are discovered and asked to leave you must or face a tresspass charge

That is neither here or there, as the old saying goes.

Let me share a successful plan of action on a local restaurant that had a no gun sign.

Said restaurant was a favorite haunt for me and my other grizzled retired friends. Never a problem for years until the father died and dimwit son put up the sign.

We spoke to the son and were dismissed as it did not fit his plans to make the place more upscale.
Ok JR, you bought the whole can of butt kick.
We still went but left the weapons in the vehicles. Funny how you can nurse a Dr Pepper and a burger for 2 hours.
We observed and reported numerous violations to the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission.
We reported health code violations.
We reported abuse of the Handicapped parking spaces.

We told all our friends and family not to go there.

Sales dropped, the rep got ruined, and Jr sold out to a guy who changed the name and took down the sign.

Give me age and treachery over youthful enthusiasm anytime.

 

[hso]

If the franchise policy is no guns, I see no problem addressing them as a group either.

The problem with it is that the corporation has no control over such posting by the owner. It does no good to try to influence the corporation in that case AND it makes us appear to be ignorant and heavy handed.

Identify the actual source of the decision to post and focus the effort there instead of wasting it aiming at the wrong target.

 

[Sav .250]

Seems to me you have 2 choices. Don`t go there anymore or over look their policy and chow down.

You wrote them. They wrote you. It`s a wash.

There are places that do not allow "carry" ....it`s just the way it is.

 

[Cascade1911]

So don't give 'em your money....

 

[elrowe]

I believe Justice is correct in his assumption, further if you have alcohol at your booth you are not allowed to carry.

Not true in KY, the booth is not primarily for the serving of alcohol, but the bar would be. There's actually no restriction against alcohol consumption while armed in KY - although it's a really bad idea.

 

[cambeul41]

Bikerdoc --

Good story, good plan of action!

 

[beatledog7]

I don't eat there anyway. Guess I won't start.

 

[hso]

It is important to know that each state, and sometimes each jurisdiction, has their own rules on carry in places that serve alcohol AND that your personal experience in your state/jurisdiction is not the same as everywhere. It is ignorance to the point of hubris to think that your jurisdiction is the same as everywhere in this patchwork of firearms laws.

The best thing you can do when confronted with an anti carry posting is to speak with the manager of the establishment, get their name, get the name and address of the owner and put them on notice that their posted policy is pointless and will cause you to work to take money from them and put it into the hands of their competitors who do not post against legal carry. Make that clear to the manager and to the owner (be sure you know who that is) and you'll go a lot further in putting your energy to good effect.

For those who make the decision to do nothing, you can tag along too as others do the heavy lifting for you.

 

[brnmuenchow]

I go there every Tuesday for $.50 wing Tuesday with some of the guy's at work and I have never really looked at their signs. I work on a military base so I can't carry anyway, so it really does not matter for me any how. If I didn't love the "Desert Heat" all- drums so much it might bother me.

 

[hso]

it really does not matter for me any how

If you profess that gun ownership is a right how can it not matter when a retailer tells you that you're not welcome if you exercise that right?

 

[paintballdude902]

all of the ones ive been to serve alcohol.... in most states this makes it off limits

 

[Texas-Sgt]

Fortunately Texas has the 51% law for where you can/can't carry that serves alcohol .. if they derive 51% of their income from the sales of alcohol for consumption on the premises you can't carry there and it will be posted with a sign at the entrances.