ABOUT
US
EST. IN
2012
In 2012, Russell Gilbert - a Western New York native and recent ODU Graduate - had a vision. He and his wife Stephanie had moved to Hampton Roads from Buffalo in 2005 and had spent the last 7 years trying to find a local hangout where they could enjoy authentic chicken wings, watch Bills Games, and get to know their neighbors in a casual, friendly atmosphere - just like home. Unable to find what they were looking for, Russ decided to try his luck at opening his own restaurant, albeit a lot smaller than what he'd envisioned, because, as he quickly learned, opening a business can get a little pricey.
Undeterred, Russ launched The Dirty Buffalo as a small quick-service spot with just a few tables, some 26-inch tv's and ridiculously late hours. That’s right, the original TDB was open until 4 am and Russ was there open to close daily…
Enter Ryan. About 6 months after opening, Steph started getting annoyed that Russ was working 90 hours a week, so Russ called his best friend from preschool, Ryan Lynn, to see if he was interested in a career change. Ryan had spent a few years in Norfolk while in the Navy and decided to give restaurant operations a shot. So by mid-2012 there were 2 guys with zero restaurant experience “just winging it” at our OG location right down the street for ODU.
BE A PART
OF OUR DIRTY
BUFFALO FAMILY!
Thankfully, the neighborhood seemed to really enjoy the laid back atmosphere Russ and Ryan created, how receptive they were to guest feedback, and the Western New York style comfort food that TDB served until all hours of the night. Thanks to a few very dedicated employees (some of which are still with us today) and our loyal guests, in 2016, Russ finally got to create the full-service restaurant he’d envisioned when he opened The Dirty Buffalo in 2012.
Keeping the friendly atmosphere and simple menu, Russ and Ryan took The Dirty Buffalo down the street to a building four times the size and flipped it into a full-service, family-friendly sports bar. (By this time Russ and Steph had started a family and wanted a place where their kids would feel welcome, but they could still drink beer and watch Bills games).
They added a full bar featuring rotating local craft brews, installed the signature game area that TDB is known for, painted the building bright blue, and the rest, as they say, is history. Over a decade later, The Dirty Buffalo is still proudly locally-owned and operated, and providing franchise opportunities to other up-and-coming entrepreneurs who want to test their own luck at owning a restaurant. To learn more about franchise opportunities, click here.