Buffalo Wild Wings to spread its wings at Liberty Tree Mall

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July 21, 2010

By Ethan Forman Staff writer The Salem News Wed Jul 21, 2010, 12:05 AM EDT

DANVERS — A Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar may soon spice up the Liberty Tree Mall.

A franchise plans to open at the former location of Vinny T's Italian eatery.

Last week, selectmen approved the transfer of Vinny T's liquor license to BW-Danvers LLC in a process that also requires the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission's approval.

BW-Danvers plans to invest $1 million to fix up the former Vinny T's facade, add more than 50 plasma and big-screen TVs and sports memorabilia to the walls, and make other improvements, according to an application on file with the town.

The restaurant would also add 70 full- and part-time jobs to the North Shore.

If all goes according to plan, Buffalo Wild Wings could serve up its spicy wings with 13 signature sauces plus other menu items by January. Plans call for a 318-seat, nearly 7,000-square-foot restaurant in a location adjacent to the mall's main entrance.

BW-Danvers is the same franchise ownership group that tried to locate a Buffalo Wild Wings in a strip mall across the parking lot from Liberty Tree. However, this group failed to come to lease terms with Simon Property Group. Liberty Tree Mall spokeswoman Lauren Adams said mall officials declined to comment.

BW-Danvers is part of a Michigan-based group that owns and operates 30 sports-bar-themed franchises in Michigan, Illinois and Louisiana: JK&T Wings Inc., which runs the franchises, and MTB Partners LLC, a real estate development company.

"What's great about it is we have an abundance of parking," Michael Bailey of MTB Partners said of the Liberty Tree Mall.

The proposed restaurant would also benefit from nearby big-box stores and a prime spot at the mall entrance that sees heavy foot traffic heading to the movie theater. The ownership group is finalizing "the last pieces of the lease," Bailey said.

Plans calls for 150 dining seats, 136 bar-area seats and 32 outdoor patio seats at the front of the restaurant adjacent to the mall entrance. The patio seats would require further approval from selectmen, Assistant Town Clerk Kathleen Woytovich said.

Vinny T's departure in May meant the closure of the only full-service restaurant and bar inside the mall. But it also opened up an opportunity for BW-Danvers. BW-Danvers has agreed to pay $150,000 to snap up Vinny T's liquor license, according to town records.

JK&T and MTB Partners also have plans to open seven or more stores north and west of Boston, Bailey said, including locations in Leominster and Saugus. Publicly traded, Minneapolis, Minn.-based Buffalo Wild Wings has more than 650 locations in 41 states, according to its website.

Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673 or by e-mail at eforman@salemnews.com.

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