NY franchise that invented Buffalo wings opens an outlet in Arlington

A New York restaurant credited with inventing the classic Buffalo wings has made its Dallas-Fort Worth debut: Called Anchor Bar, it's part of a franchise founded in Buffalo, NY, and has opened a location in Arlington, in a former Wings and Rings space at 2150 E. Lamar Blvd. #110, inside The Village at Ballpark shopping center.

It opened on September 16.

The franchise, which originally opened in 1935, currently has 17 locations across the U.S. including four in Texas — College Station, Round Rock, San Antonio, and Schertz — where it made its debut in 2017.

Though the name sounds seafood related, Anchor Bar specializes in wings, both traditional and boneless, plus vegan wings for those who prefer a meatless option.

According to Anchor Bar Operations and Marketing Director Michelle Buchholz, the original wing and signature sauce was created in 1964 — 29 years after they opened — by Anchor Bar owner Teressa Bellissimo.

"We have our variety of sauces, but our medium original sauce is the one that was served that day in 1964," Buchholz says. "It's a blend of cayenne pepper and ingredients. We keep our oil fresh and use jumbo wings, not breaded, which we cook fresh."

While the Bellissimo family stakes a claim to Buffalo wings, other New York places have claimed the same, such as John M. Young's Wings & Things in 1966, according to the Buffalo History Museum. And the history may stretch back even further to the late 19th century.

Will we ever really know who made Buffalo wings a thing?

Their wings range from $16 for a boneless 10-piece to $70 for a traditional 50-piece bucket. But they are not just a wing joint; they also serve pizza and sandwiches from the Buffalo region, along with beer and wine.

"Some of our western New York favorites are beef on weck (a roast beef sandwich)," Buchholz says. "We also have an appetizer called pizza logs — that's something else that came from Western New York. But our menu is primarily American fare."

In addition to wings, there are Buffalo chicken salads, Buffalo chicken nachos, and a Buffalo chicken mac & cheese.

But there are also bar classics like fried mozzarella sticks, fried pickles, chips & queso, and loaded tots or fries.

The location has a family-friendly sports bar vibe with more than 40 TV screens for game day views and two patios.

The Anchor Bar Arlington franchise is owned by entrepreneur Al McClurge. With 10 years of experience, he’s no stranger to the restaurant industry and owns Southern Eats, a soul food restaurant that’s also located in Arlington at 6407 S. Cooper St. According to Buchholz, McClurge selected the location because he's local to the area and knows it well.

"He loved the location that he picked because it's in the entertainment district near AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park, and Six Flags," Buchholz says. "There's just so much around this area."