Project Has yet to Begin for New Buffalo Wild Wings at Crystal Mall in Waterford, CT
Site to Receive Extensive Renovations to Prepare for New Restaurant
The restaurant will open in the former Charley's Eating and Drinking Saloon on the mall's upper level near Sears.
It is expected to feature both a mall entrance and an entrance from the parking lot.
On a recent visit to the mall, most of the windows of the restaurant were papered over. The two doors that were not covered over showed a glimpse of the space was void of any major construction activity.
While tables and chairs are gone and patio furniture removed, bar fixtures of the old Charley's still exist. The shadow of Charley's letters can still be seen on the outside of the building.
Plans call for a major renovation project to include both interior and exterior changes.
The 7,191-square feet restaurant, is slightly larger than the average 6,000-square-foot Buffalo Wild Wings, and will feature a 700 square foot slab patio.
Restrooms will be relocated to the portion of the restaurant closest to the mall entrance while a current "Emergency Exit Only" door will be converted to one that can be used for the restaurant's take out service.
The bar will be relocated from the center of the restaurant to the far section farthest from the mall entrance.
Drawings show that the 302-seat restaurant is expected to feature 18 tables with four chairs each in the main dining room. There will be 11 booths in this area that can hold 6 people each. A party room will hold 9 tables with four chairs each as well. The bar dining area will accommodate 11 tables of four, three high tables of two, and five tables of six. The bar will have 16 seats. There will be eight tables of four chairs each on the patio.
It will hire 100 people to work in the restaurant and bar. It will be the only bar in the Crystal Mall.
When the restaurant opens, it will be the only sit-down restaurant with bar in the Crystal Mall proper. Other restaurants located adjacent to the mall building, on mall property, include Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse.
The restaurant will feature chicken wings with 14 different sauces and four seasons along with 30 beers on tap and 50
plasma televisions.
Additionally, the restaurant will feature salads, appetizers, burgers, and specialty items.
This will be the only Buffalo Wild Wings within 40 miles and is expected to attract customers from throughout eastern Connecticut and nearby Rhode Island.
The next closest Buffalo Wild Wings to this location are in the Price Chopper Shopping Center in Windsor, Downtown New Haven, and in Milford in the Connecticut Post Mall.
Founded in 1982, Buffalo Wild Wings has 726 locations in 44 states.
Crystal Mall is currently undergoing a $10 million renovation that will replace all flooring with tile on the lower level and carpeting on the upper level. The mall will be repainted and new handrails and wider ramps will be installed along the upper level. The food court will receive a face lift and all three mall entrances, including the one next to Buffalo Wild Wings, will be renovated. All mall lighting will be changed with more energy efficient bulbs. Soft seating such as sofas and chairs will be added. Exterior signage will be replaced and landscaping around the mall will be upgraded.
Sources Used
Petrone, Paul. "Buffalo Wild Wings Moves into Waterford: Restaurant Takes Over Former Charley's Restaurant." Patch.com. 3/1/11. http://waterford.patch.com/articles/buffalo-wild-wings-moves-into-waterford
Wagner Design-Build. "Current Projects" http://www.wagnerdesignbuild.com/projects.php
Dadoona, Patricia."Buffalo WIld WIngs to Open This Summer in the Crystal Mall." theday.com. 3/9/11. http://www.theday.com/article/20110309/BIZ02/110309646/1070
CMA: Architecture, Interior Design, Planning. http://www.cmarch.com/cms.php?mpid=3&spid=16
Petrone, Paul. "The New Crystal Mall; Minus the Crystal: Plans of $10 million Renovation Released." Patch.com. http://waterford.patch.com/articles/the-new-crystal-mall-minus-the-crystal#photo-5314135
Published by Corey Sipe
Corey has over 15 years of writing experience. He is a Patch blogger with stories appearing here with links. On Yahoo, he has written business, attraction, and movie articles. He gained layout and editing sk... View profile
- Norwichtown Mall in Norwich, Connecticut Breathing Its Last BreathWithin the past two months, two more retailers have closed in the Norwichtown Mall in Norwich, a mall once anchored by a discount store, department store, grocery store, and a number of specialty shops.
More Stores Close at Norwichtown Mall Making it "The Dead Mall" of New L...The Norwichtown Mall is slowly dying as stores pull out but none open, it is the sign of the times of a dying regional mall. The mall in its heyday was a bustling place but now...
Oddities Abound at Trumbull, CT Hawley Lane Mall Anchored by Target, Best Buy, and Home Goods, the mall's oddities include accessibility issues, confusing signage, lack of mall directory, and a Target underground garage- Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant in Louisville, KYAn overview and review of Buffalo Wild Wings, a chain restaurant with seven locations in the Louisville, KY area.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Food and Fun for EveryoneBuffalo Wild Wings serves wings in all shapes, sizes and flavors. Their family-friendly approach results in a fun and comfortable eatery with excellent fare.
- Crystal Mall in Waterford, Connecticut
- Auburn Mall in Auburn, MA is a Small Mall with Big Anchors
- East Brook Mall is a True Community Mall
- Small Size a Theme at Crystal Mall in Waterford, CT
- Crystal Mall in Waterford, Connecticut, to Have Non-Traditional Anchors
- East Brook Mall in Mansfield, CT Reveals Decades-Long Transformation
- CVS Closes Meriden Square Mall Store in Meriden, Connecticut



