Buffalo Wings & Rings is looking for franchisees interested in opening a Winchester location.

Philip Schram, chief development officer at Buffalo Wings & Rings, said the Cincinnati-based restaurant recently developed a refocused strategic plan to have 25 locations in Kentucky within the next five years.

Now, the franchise is looking for local folks who want to put the plan into action.

“We are looking for the right individual who is going to have a passion for the brand and passion for the execution,” Schram said.

Schram said each location brings more than 25 jobs to the local economy so the plan would create approximately 500 jobs in the next 10 years.

Schram said while it may take a few years for the chain to come to Winchester, it will be worth the wait. He said the chain would likely open in Lexington before venturing into neighboring communities.

“If we put a capital restaurant in Lexington, and then we start to build in neighboring cities like Winchester, Richmond and Georgetown, that would be a good plan to densify our presence in greater Lexington,” Schram said.

Buffalo Wings & Rings, established in 1984, offers fresh salads, homemade blue cheese, innovative sandwich options, hand-pressed burgers and “fresh, never frozen wings.”

“All food is made from scratch,” Schram said. “ … Then we cook everything to order.”

The franchise currently operates more than 80 locations across the globe.

While wing joints typically market to college students and sports fans, Schram said he wants to make it clear that Buffalo Wings & Rings is a family first restaurant. Though, Schram said it is still a “club-level sports restaurant,” aiming to provide the ultimate sports dining experience compared to competitors.

Buffalo Wings & Rings recently opened two new locations further southeast in Danville and Somerset and have signed agreements to bring the franchise to Glasgow, Bowling Green and Union within the next few years. There are also locations in London, greater Louisville, Bardstown and Elizabethtown.

More information about opening a franchise is available at buffalowingsandrings.com.