BUFFALO'S SOUTHWEST CAFE AND BIKERS GEAR UP FOR MARCH OF DIMES RIDE TO SAVE BABIES

On Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004 Buffalo ’s Southwest Cafe will feed 2,000 hungry “hogs”  as presenting food sponsor for the 13th Annual March of Dimes “Ride to Save Babies.”  Buffalo’s will provide free lunch for all Ride participants from 2-4 p.m. at the Lakewood Exhibition Center , where the Ride concludes.

The Ride weekend takes place Oct. 1-3 with various activities planned for each day leading up to the Peachtree Thunder Parade on Oct. 3.  The 24-mile event, which starts and ends at Lakewood Exhibition Center, takes 2,000 bikers on a police-escorted parade route through downtown Atlanta and Buckhead.  Those wishing to cheer on the parade of motorcycles can go to an official lookout location along the route.  For more information, call 404-350-9800, extension 213, or visit www.marchofdimesride.org .

 “The March of Dimes Ride is an incredible opportunity for biking enthusiasts across Georgia to join together for an amazing cause that truly saves lives.   We want to express our appreciation to these dedicated riders for their commitment to improving the infant mortality rate in Georgia,” said Ralph Perrella, Buffalo ’s Southwest Cafe president and co-founder. 

In addition to providing food on Oct. 3, three Buffalo ’s locations are participating in “Bank Days,” in which a March of Dimes representative will spend the evening at each Restaurant signing up participants for the Ride.  Bank Days will kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the Sugarloaf location in Duluth , Ga.   Then, Wednesday, Sept. 29, the Killian Hill location in Snellville , Ga. location will serve diners the restaurant’s famous  “All You Can Eat Wings” for $10.99.  Bank Days will conclude at the Stockbridge, Ga., restaurant on Thursday, Sept. 30.  There, diners can take part in “Trivia Night” beginning at 7:30 p.m., while enjoying half-price wings and “fresh beer” made that day at the nearby Budweiser location.

Additionally, Buffalo’s has just wrapped up two special “wing” fundraising promotions, raising more than $7,000 for the March of Dimes.  Customers who dined at the 25 metro-Atlanta Buffalo ’s Southwest Cafe locations donated to the March of Dimes Ride through the purchase of special Ride Wing logo cutouts that were displayed in the restaurants.

“Over the past 12 years, Atlanta ’s Ride has become a huge success in the fight to save the lives of Georgia ’s babies.  Our current project with the expanded Georgia Newborn Screening Program will allow us to help doctors diagnose and treat the 133,000 Georgia babies born each year,” said John Woodruff, Atlanta Ride co-chair and March of Dimes National Board of Trustee member.

Based in Marietta, Ga., Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts was founded in 1985 and has approximately 45 restaurants in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Puerto Rico and Kuwait.  The company has new units slated for construction in Arkansas , Nevada , North Carolina and Texas . 

Buffalo ’s Southwest Cafe restaurants offer an award-winning menu that includes its world-famous Buffalo-style chicken wings in several taste varieties.  Other favorites -- all cooked-to-order -- include steaks, ribs, fajitas, chili, quesadillas, wraps, burgers and a variety of appetizers.  The menu also has homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts.  The restaurants are currently featuring the fall menu “Moondance Specials,” a new promotion that includes such specialties as “Honey Garlic Wings,” “Blackened Shrimp and Penne Pasta,” “Smokehouse Riblets” and “Navajo Chop.” 

Each restaurant helps tell the story of the Old Southwest while providing a unique dining experience.  With wooden floors and distressed metal ceilings, the restaurants also feature antiques, artifacts, western memorabilia and hundreds of period photographs lining rustic wooden walls.  High-back booths, the primary seating, each sport a different theme such as gunslingers, outlaw posters, Indians, lawmen and railroads.