While STLWingReview is my first writing endeavor focused entirely on wings, it isn’t my first foray into the subject matter. The following article appeared in the Feb 26, 2009 issue of Valparaiso University‘s student newspaper, The Torch.
It appears here exactly as it appeared there, except for a new headline which was not preserved in my Google Drive archive process.
If you have read my column more than a few times, it isn’t hard to tell that I am moderately obsessed with food. I have written at least two columns this semester about the subject.
It also may come to your attention that I am financially incapable of supporting my food habits.
With these two things in mind, I have always loved Tuesdays at the fine Valparaiso location of Buffalo Wild Wings.
It is within walking distance. The food is above average. The refills are free. And on any Tuesday, You could get a dozen wings for $3.00. This was the glory of 25-cent wings.
I have learned, through traveling to other BWW locations, that this miracle was now only something that existed in Valparaiso. Other locations nationwide had the audacity of charging 40 cents for their wings – hardly a discount at all.
I bragged to friends who went to different schools: “Our B-Dubs has 25-cent wings on Tuesdays,” and their jaws drop in jealousy.
I speculate that all Buffalo Wild Wings had 25-cent wings once upon a time, but as prices went up, the headquarters instructed each restaurant to bump it up to 40. I picture the owner of the Valparaiso branch writing a letter to headquarters that read something like this:
“I love the people of Valparaiso too much to inflict such pain and suffering upon them. I abhor this initiative. I will fight for The Wing Sabbath, Tuesday, to remain at 25 cents per wing as long as I have this job.”
Headquarters then may have responded, “Eat the extra cost yourself then.”
And acting as a martyr for poor college students everywhere, he replied, “OK. I will.”
Shocked though they were, nationals decided to let him do this, as it wasn’t doing them any harm.
Yet.
Once the students and citizens of Valparaiso started talking about their heroic location’s 25-cent wings, others became resentful of their own local BWW’s lack of integrity. They started boycotting their locations, and B-Dubs national profits began to significantly decline.
At some point, they decided to do some community surveys to see why people weren’t going to their local Buffalo Wild Wings any more. All signs pointed to the 25-cent wings at the Valparaiso location.
It was then that headquarters decided that they had to get rid of the owner of Valpariso’s B-Dubs.
They sent him a letter that read like this: “Bump your wing prices up to 40 cents, or we will bring in someone who will.”
He replied, “I will never go back on my promise to the people of Valparaiso. Fire me if you must.” They fired him.
I know this, because two Tuesdays ago, I went into Buffalo Wild Wings to find the sign “Wing Tuesday wings are now 40 cents” posted sadly on a single 8.5”x11” piece of paper on the entrance.