Inventor of Buffalo wings coming to Las Vegas Strip

First, it was White Castle sliders on the Strip.

Now, it’s Buffalo-style chicken wings.

Restaurant brands’ love affair with the Strip will continue in June when Las Vegas-based restaurant consulting agency, Epicurean Strategic Partners, opens the first Western U.S. location of Buffalo, N.Y.-based Anchor Bar, which invented the Buffalo-style chicken wing.

The quick-serve Anchor Bar spot is scheduled to open in The Venetian food court on June 15, said Tony Figurelli, Epicurean chief operating officer.

“We’re looking at an iconic brand when it comes to chicken wings. You can’t get more iconic than Anchor Bar,” Figurelli said Monday.

“What better place to do it where you see so many people than Las Vegas?” Figurelli said. “We liked the concept. It has a great story.”

Anchor Bar and Epicurean have been in discussions for a Las Vegas site for a little more than a year, he said. “We wanted to make sure it was a good marriage.”

The franchisee deal will cost more than seven figures, Figurelli said.

Epicurean is converting a former Nathan’s hot dog restaurant into the 1,200-square-foot quick service site.

Anchor Bar has its flagship restaurant on Buffalo, N.Y.’s Main Street, and four other area locations, including one in Canada in Hamilton, Ontario. Its management is credited with creating the Buffalo-style chicken wing more than a half-century ago.

An increasing number of restaurants brands are opening eateries on the Strip.

In the past few months, Brooklyn pizzeria DiFara’s and Denver-based Smashburger opened restaurants in Caesars’ Forum Food Court, New York City-based Shake Shack opened in New York-New York, Southern comfort food concept Yardbird opened in The Venetian and White Castle debuted in Best Western Plus Casino Royale. Even the popular FukuBurger food truck opened up shop at The Linq last year.

Contact Alan Snel at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Find him on Twitter: @BicycleManSnel