National restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings is coming to Cullman, in a move developers hope will help breathe new life into one of the city’s oldest retail developments.

Drinkard Development has closed a deal with Buffalo Wild Wings to build a new, 6,202-square-foot restaurant that will include indoor seating and a patio area in the King Edward Plaza Shopping Center off U.S. Hwy. 31 in south Cullman. The local model is one of the largest prototypes built by the company.

The entire restaurant is estimated to seat a maximum capacity of 242 people and create approximately 15 full-time jobs and 10 additional part-time jobs. Construction is expected to start within the next 4-5 weeks with an eye toward an opening this summer.

The restaurant will be located to the south of the Walgreens currently in the development, in-between the driveway entrance to the Ninja Japanese Steak House on the backside of the property.

Jason Grimmett, with Drinkard Development, noted Buffalo Wild Wings should be a boon for the decades-old development — and actually represents the third major redevelopment of the site since its establishment.

“Originally there was the cigar plant there, then later you had the old Wal-Mart on that site. This will be the third time its been revamped, and that’s something you love to see for an older property,” he said. “We still believe the south end of Cullman is where most of the shopping gets done, within that 1-2 mile radius, and we’re excited to hopefully pull some of that back toward the center of town. Buffalo Wild Wings could’ve gone wherever they wanted, and they chose here because they are really gearing toward the local customers and being a part of the community.”

Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce President Leah Bolin said she is excited to see redevelopment of an older site, noting it’s hopefully a sign of things to come as more new and existing businesses look to revitalize existing retail space.

“The location for it is fantastic, because it’s hopefully going to be a domino effect for other franchisers and businesses to follow suit in that area,” she said. “With McDonalds tearing down and building back up across the street, as well, you see developers and businesses building new buildings but also looking to reinvent those older properties and reevaluate them. I think it’s a great template for what we’re trying to do for our whole community.”

Buffalo Wild Wings was founded in 1982 in Ohio, and has grown to encompass 1,025 restaurants. Officials hope to increase that number to 1,700 restaurants within the next 10 years.

The franchise is well known for its sports bar layout, and offering of specialty chicken wings and beer on tap.

Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 134.