BuffaLouie's

BE A PART OF 40 YEARS OF CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS.

An Indiana Tradition, A NATIONAL BRAND,

AND A FRANCHISE BUILT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS.

Meet the Family Behind the Brand

On September 7, 1987, Jay Lieser, a 21 year old Buffalo, New York native attending Indiana University, noticed something missing. There wasn’t a place to get authentic Buffalo Wings. With the help of his parents, Ed and Trudy, they introduced the Buffalo Wing to Bloomington, Indiana! Jay named the restaurant after his grandfather, Louie Lieser, whose cigar-smoking caricature became the logo! What started as one small restaurant on the Indiana University campus has grown into something much bigger than anyone could have imagined. And now, 40 years later, the Lieser family is proud to bring BuffaLouie's to communities across the country through franchising. Sharing our world-famous wings, legendary food, family recipes, Hoosier Hospitality, and championship tradition that has defined us since 1987. The next 40 years begins now...

Founder Jay Lieser standing in front of the original BuffaLouie's on 17th Street in Bloomington, Indiana circa 1987

Join the BuffaLouie's Winner’s Circle

The fast casual restaurant industry continues to grow, but lasting brands aren't built on trends. They're built on community, quality and a dedication to excellence. For 40 years, BuffaLouie's has become An Indiana Tradition by treating our customers like family, serving food made with love, and creating an atmosphere that feels like home to many generations of Hoosiers. Today, for the first time, that legacy is available through franchising.

4 Decades of Brand Equity

As a franchisee, you're inheriting 4 decades of operational expertise, award-winning food, and instant credibility nationwide. 40 years of operations, recipes, and training, that have been refined and perfected to a system we created for consistent success.

Superior Product

Voted one of America's Top 10 Wing Joints by USA Today. Our fresh, never frozen chicken wings are always salt-brine cleaned, and paired with our family’s homemade sauces. Beyond our legendary wings, BuffaLouie's has built a loyal following with specialty burgers, handcrafted flatbreads, premium chicken sandwiches, super salads and a menu designed to keep guests coming back again and again.

40 Years of Winning Together

BuffaLouie's opened in 1987, the same year Bob Knight’s Indiana Basketball team won the National Championship. Since then, we have become woven into the fabric of Indiana University. We've grown alongside the nation's largest alumni community, serving generations of Hoosiers. And now, in 2026, as the Indiana Hoosiers Football Team stands as the National Champions and we embark on this franchising journey, the championship tradition continues...

Join the BuffaLouie's Winner’s Circle

The BuffaLouie's Difference

We are not just another chicken wing joint. We are a part of chicken wing history. We introduced the Buffalo-style chicken wing to Bloomington, Indiana, and then we perfected it. Since 1987, we've served fresh, never frozen wings that are salt-brine cleaned and then fried to crispy perfection. Combined with our award-winning homemade sauces, they're nationally recognized for their freshness, flavor, consistency, and quality.

But BuffaLouie's is more than just great wings.

From our signature smash burgers and premium chicken sandwiches to handcrafted flatbreads, super salads, and legendary appetizers, every item is crafted with the same attention to detail that has defined BuffaLouie's for 40 years.

The best restaurants aren't built on great food alone. They're built on how people are treated. Every guest who walks through our doors is treated like family, creating an experience that keeps them coming back. That customer-first philosophy has always been at the heart of BuffaLouie's.

As a BuffaLouie's franchise partner, you will receive more than an operating system. You will inherit a championship playbook built over 4 decades, backed by the founding family, a winning culture, and a nationally recognized brand committed to helping you succeed every step of the way.

What It Takes to Join the BuffaLouie's Family

Owning and operating a BuffaLouie's restaurant requires committed, hands-on leadership and a willingness to lead by example. It means understanding every aspect of the business, from the front of the house to the back of the kitchen, building a strong team, delivering exceptional hospitality, and creating an experience that keeps guests coming back. We're looking for motivated owners with strong management and hospitality backgrounds who share our values and are ready to become an active part of their community.

Key Traits for Success:

• Strong Business Leadership
• Passionate and Leads by Example
• Ready to Build a Winning Team
• Prioritizes Exceptional Hospitality
• Ready to build on 40 Years of Championship Success

Ready to Join the BuffaLouie's Winner’s Circle?

Schedule a Franchise Call Today!

Championship Recipe for Franchise Success

As a BuffaLouie's franchise partner, you’ll never have to “wing it” alone. We’ll provide the training, tools, proven systems, and hands-on support you need to confidently open your restaurant, lead your team, serve your community, and grow your business.

Learn the BuffaLouie's Way

Our comprehensive training program prepares you to understand every part of the BuffaLouie's operation, from front-of-house hospitality and back-of-house food preparation to menu execution, staffing, inventory, technology, quality control, and daily restaurant management. You’ll also learn our history, values, brand standards, and the customer-first philosophy that has guided us since 1987.

Family-Led Operational Guidance

We will be with you from site selection and restaurant buildout to opening day and every day operations. You will receive our detailed operations manual, access to our established vendor relationships, performance analytics, launch support, and continued mentorship from the family who built the brand.

Viral Marketing Toolkit

You’ll have the strength and support of an established, multi-generational, nationally recognized brand behind you, along with the marketing tools needed to introduce BuffaLouie's to your community. We are here to help you grow with our social media playbook, SEO/SEM strategies, tailored local outreach, and much more.

The next 40 YEARS begins now!

To get started, fill out the franchise form.

This is not a franchise offering. A franchise offering can be made by us only in a state if we are first registered, excluded, exempted or otherwise qualified to offer franchises in that state, and only if we provide you with an appropriate franchise disclosure document. Follow-up or individualized responses to you that involve either effecting or attempting to effect the sale of a franchise will be made only if we are first in compliance with state registration requirements, or are covered by an applicable state exclusion or exemption.