Sports-themed Restaurants Open For Business

It is often like a sporting event, attempting to drive down Red Wolf Boulevard, battling lunch time traffic.

Now there are places in Jonesboro where people can stop off and actually watch the game.

Both Buffalo Wild Wings and Fat City Steak and Grillhouse have opened in the past year or so, leading people to have lunch while watching sporting events.

Jamie Walker, general manager for Buffalo Wild Wings, said the restaurant opened in March and has 63 televisions for sports fans to watch games.

The games on the screens Wednesday ranged from St. Louis Cardinal baseball games to the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

“We try to cater to everyone,” Walker said. “We have everything including rugby and racquetball. If it is sports, we will play it.”

Tom Fielder, managing partner for Fat City, said the restaurant draws a good lunch crowd interested in sports.

“With the three of us (who own the restaurant), we all love sports. The bigger the games, the bigger the season, the more we see an increase,” Fielder said.

Fielder said the lunch crowd is even bigger in the spring.

“With a one hour lunch, it is big at the beginning of March Madness or opening day (during baseball season),” Fielder said.

Both Fielder and Walker said the majority of sports fans in Northeast Arkansas like the Cardinals and the Memphis Grizzlies. There is also a contingent of pinstriped fans.

“Believe it or not, there are a lot of Yankees fans in Jonesboro. If they are on, we request it,” Walker said.

Fielder said his restaurant also draws from fans who like high school football.

“We see a lot of high school fans. Especially, if at certain times on Friday (if the game ends on time). We see a before or after contingent,” Fielder said.

Both men said there are a lot of Red Wolves and Razorback fans in the area, which draw fans to the restaurants.

The two universities are expected to be on television a lot this year.

“We benefit from the televised games,” Walker said.