Buffalo Wings & Rings, a new franchise restaurant at the corner of Catron Boulevard and Sheridan Lake Road, is set to open its doors Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Franchise owner Alexander Romeyn is retired from the military. After he retired, he and his wife spent a couple of years in Thailand before moving to Rapid City. He found the Buffalo Wings & Rings chain while researching franchises.

"I liked their concept, I liked their food, and I liked the management of the company," he said. "So it seemed to be a good fit. I thought the citizens of Rapid City would be receptive to this kind of concept - something family friendly but would appeal to just about everybody."

Buffalo Wings & Rings is a casual-dining restaurant featuring Buffalo-style chicken wings soaked in spicy sauces as well as onion rings, hamburgers, chicken, pulled-pork sandwiches and an assortment of salads. Beverages include beer.

The Rapid City restaurant is the Cincinnati-based chain's 28th location. It was founded in 1988. Its other restaurants are in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.

To a certain extent, Romeyn is going against the trend in recent years. With few exceptions, franchise restaurants in Rapid City tend to locate along Interstate 90 or near Rushmore Mall.

"The response I'm getting from the community is pretty positive," Romeyn said. "I think they have been wanting to see a good dining alternative out in this part of town."

And the southwest corner of town is one of the fastest-growing residential areas in Rapid City.

Since Catron Boulevard - a 1.7-mile link between West Rapid and the rest of the city - opened in 1999, the pace of commercial development at that intersection has been slowly gaining steam.

Recently World Class Golf, Snap Fitness and Stoney Creek Auto Spa and Storage have opened on the same corner.

And across the street, businesses such as My Girlfriend's Kitchen, Autumn Hills Liquors and Autumn Hills Veterinary Clinic have opened in recent years. Security First Bank has a branch there, as well.

And nearby the 278-unit Stoney Creek Highlands Apartment Homes is under construction. When completed, it will be Rapid City's largest apartment complex. Rapid City dentist Bill Donhiser built the Autumn Hills Plaza north of Catron Boulevard.

"Here in Rapid City, there's tremendous residential growth. However, commercial development is sometimes slow to follow," Romeyn said. "I want our restaurant to help lead the commercial push in this part of town and entice other businesses to join the community."

The Rapid City restaurant employs 30 people and has inside seating for 160 and outdoor dining capabilities to seat an additional 40 diners, weather permitting.

The decor features a variety of nontraditional sports and recreational equipment showcased throughout the restaurant, such as golf clubs, cross-country skis, surfboards, cricket bats, lacrosse sticks and fencing and archery equipment.

Hours of operation The Rapid City Buffalo Wings & Rings will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information, call 791-WING (9464).

Contact Dan Daly at 394-8421 or dan.daly@rapidcityjournal.com