Buffalo Wild Wings is coming to Green Acres Mall

They looked in Baldwin, Freeport, Lynbrook and Rockville Centre before settling on Valley Stream for a new Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant.

“We look for a place that can support a family-style restaurant that features sports and wings,” said franchisee James Bitzonis. “The restaurant needs at least 50,000 people within a three-mile radius, 6,000 square feet and parking for 120 cars.”

The restaurant, which will feature 80 TV’s showing a variety of sports, is expected to open in the late summer or fall next to the expansion at the Green Acres Mall, near Dick’s Sporting Goods.

“We can show baseball, basketball, football and hockey — even soccer — that is surging. Look at all the local teams we have: Islanders, Rangers, Nets, Knicks, Jets, Giants, Mets, Yankees — we have an amazing contract with DirecTV, we offer UFC Pay Per View events for free, and, of course, wings. Wings absolutely outsell chicken breast, the Cadillac of chicken. They are the most-consumed food, even surpassing pizza on Superbowl day.”

Bitzonis said that a special offer would accompany the grand opening. “We will be giving away coupons for a free small plate of wings every week for a year to the first 100 people in line.”

Another new Buffalo Wild Wings is slated to open on March 14 at the site of the former Nathan’s on Long Beach Road in Oceanside. The franchise has stores in all five boroughs of New York City, in Westchester and Rockland counties and in Connecticut. The Valley Stream location will be the fourth in Nassau County after Oceanside. The other two are in Westbury and Hicksville.