Approval Gives Buffalo Wild Wings a Location in Southington

The open Bernie's location that has remained vacant since the electronics and appliance store closed finally has a new tenant.

With approval of a special exception from the Board of Zoning appeals this week, Southington is about to welcome in Buffalo Wild Wings, a sports bar and restaurant with locations across the United States. It also means an anchor to one end of ShopRite Plaza.

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Martti Matheson, who with his partners Aaron Miller and George Furness opened their first chain in Burlington, Vt., in 2010, said he's looking forward to the opportunity to bring the restaurant to Southington.

The group, who also own locations in New Hampshire and on Union Street in Waterbury, is looking forward to the location in town and said that the proximatey to ESPN makes it a natural draw.

In an interview with the Record-Journal this week, Furness said the restaurant is "a place where you can pull the tables together and stay as long as you want."

"This is a great town," Furness said. "We are going to hire 100 people (with this)."

According to the Buffalo Wild Wings website, there are currently about 870 locations throughout the United States and Canada.

The restaurant is expected to open for business in April, but that will depend on approvals from both the town and state, Matheson said. The restaurant will hold interviews for interested residents after construction begins.

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