‘New concept’: Buffalo Wild Wings coming to Portsmouth West End Yards development
Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH — Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and sports bar — which recently closed its location at the Mall at Fox Run in Newington — will be opening a new location at West End Yards, a major mixed-use development off the Route 1 Bypass.
Torrington Properties, which developed the roughly 10-acre West End Yards project, confirmed “a new concept” Buffalo Wild Wings is set to open this spring in the Portsmouth development.
“We are excited to announce the first commercial tenant at West End Yards,” said Matt Morgan, chief operating officer of Torrington Properties. “West End Yards is a thriving location for people to live, work, and play, and Buffalo Wild Wings is a great fit for the community we’re creating there.”
West End Yards, parts of which remain under construction, will feature 250 apartments when complete, along with a public dog park and 44,000 square feet of retail and office space.
Developers have already opened a new city road that runs from the Route 1 Bypass through the mixed-use development, and to Bartlett Street, which ultimately connects to downtown Portsmouth.
In addition, 134 of the luxury apartments are complete, Torrington Properties said.
Jason Cole is a partner in Pictor Enterprises, the local owner of the new Buffalo Wild Wings and five other Buffalo Wild Wings franchises across New Hampshire and Maine.
Cole said he expects guests will appreciate the new design.
The new concept Buffalo Wild Wings will feature a bar made from recycled basketball courts, anchoring the indoor space, along with stadium-like audio visual technologies with LED modular screens, according to the company.
In addition, the restaurant will feature a dining area with a mix of booths, single tables and community-style tables, including an LED modular “Jumbotron” screen that flanks an entire wall, according to Cole.
An enclosed takeout area features a sauce bottle wall and televisions for guests to enjoy while waiting for their food.
Cole added that the new Portsmouth location is expected to also support a robust take-out business.
The Boulos Company, which has partnered with Torrington on past projects, such as the recent acquisition of the Newington Park Shopping Center, helped secure Buffalo Wild Wings’ relocation to West End Yards.
“We’re thrilled to have Buffalo Wild Wings kick off the commercial leasing at West End Yards and think that their new modern concept is going to be well received by Portsmouth,” said Caitlin Burke, senior associate pf The Boulos Company. “Now that the building frame is up and construction is underway, momentum is building with prospective tenants, and we’re excited to see the developer’s vision come to life.”
Buffalo Wild Wings, founded in 1982, has more than 1,200 restaurants in 10 countries, according to the company.
More projects in Portsmouth
Torrington Properties is also working on a separate project off of Route 1 near the Water Country amusement park.
The company is proposing to demolish the now-closed Cinemagic movie theater off Lafayette Road and replace it with a five-story 100-unit multifamily condominium building, according to documents filed with the city.
The proposed site of that condo project is 2454 Lafayette Road, and if approved will be located near the Veridian Residences luxury apartments, which were also developed by Torrington Properties.
