Brea gets a Buffalo Wild Wings, after NIMBYs chases them out of Santa Ana

The world’s largest Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and sports bar opened to the public at 260 S. Brea Blvd. in Brea, on Monday, May 23.  Backed by local investors including several Southern California baseball and football players, the new $5 million restaurant is the latest redevelopment effort for downtown Brea by local business owner and former sports agent, Dwight Manley, who grew up in the town, according to Restaurant News.

Did you know that a Buffalo Wild Wings was going to open up in Santa Ana, over by Orchard Hardware on 17th and Tustin, back in 2008?  That didn’t work out though as a handful of NIMBY residents in the northeastern part of Santa Ana protested the establishment’s Conditional Use Permit (CUP.)  Eventually the owners of the proposed restaurant cleared out of town, abandoning all hope of ever being able to open for business here in Santa Ana.

Here is what the NIMBYs’ leader, Mike Tardif, posted about their protest on the Orange Juice blog article about the ill-fated Santa Ana Buffalo Wild Wings:

Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the Santa Ana City Council:

We hereby request that the City Council call a public hearing concerning the alcohol (ABC) Conditional Use Permit granted to Buffalo Wild Wings, by the Planning Commission, for on-site sale of alcoholic beverages.

The residents of Parkwood, Meredith and Portola neighborhoods are very concerned that the negative effects of this “sports bar” on their neighborhoods have not been properly taken into consideration.

Respectfully submitted by,

Tom Childress
Kathy Ingersoll
Lee Ingersoll
Brad Day, Board Member Meredith/Parkwood HOA
Andy Martinez
Emmy Martinez
George R. Staff
Chrissy Staff
Rick Legowski
Peggy Legowski
Mike Tardif
Mercedes Tardif
Bridget Tardif
Tony Diaz
Jose Diaz
Carolyn Diaz
Muriel McCormick
Celesta Severtsen
Michael Severtsen
Jimmy Kabaian
Thomas Accongio
Nadine Accongio
Maria Cabrera
Milo Van Beck

These people are probably proud of themselves.  But what did they accomplish?  They cost our city jobs and tax revenue.  The newspapers are praising the new Buffalo Wild Wings in Brea today – but it should have been ours, here in Santa Ana, were it not for the selfish actions of a handful of NIMBYs.  What a shame.

So do you want to know what you missed out on fellow Santa Ana resident?  Here’s a few comments about the new Buffalo Wild Wings in Brea, from their Yelp page:

  • “This place is definitely the place to be for a while… it’s bringin in a lot of foot traffic into downtown Brea.”
  • “This place was recently opened in Downtown Brea…must say it is in a prime spot…there was a lot of people there for some good food and of course the games on TV.”
  • The restaurant overall is huge. There are TV screens on every walls. I will say that this place is a cool place to “hang out, watch a game, eat some wings, and drink some beers.”
  • “Inside is fantastic. The downtown Brea area is a void of sports viewing bars. Literally no good place to watch a game or two…until now.”
  • “LOVE this place! Incredible wings and flavors, like fifty different TVs (even have ones in the bathrooms lol), huge capacity, poker/trivia competitions, crazy wild and fun atmosphere and much more all for reasonable pricing as well.”
  • “The place itself is awesome – TV’s on every wall, all playing sports; the ambience upstairs is totally cool with the open deck and fire/water fountain upstairs.  Again, the place itself is 5 stars.”
  • “All in all a great experience…..Would definitely come again.”

Yep.  We could have had a Buffalo Wild Wings in Santa Ana.  But the NIMBYs killed it…and now it is in Brea instead.  Go figure.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • Is calling someone a "NIMBY from the coalition of No" civil discourse? Please enlighten us?

    • It is certainly accurate. And NIMBY is a word that appears in about a dozen online dictionaries.

  • "It is certainly accurate."

    And if someone is actually a jerk, calling them that would be accurate as well. But it wouldn't be civil discourse.

    • anon,

      Why do you give Tardif a free pass when he posts horrible comments under the guise of "junior?"

  • Went to BWW brea this weekend. Mike is right. He and his ilk don't belong in that kind of establishment. it was filled with DOZENS of Little League kids and their families (of all races), folks in CSUF jerseys (I think there was a tournament). The Mayor of Brea was there with his grandkids too. All NASTY PEOPLE.

    Now, if one so chooses, they can go down the street (Imperial Highway) to Millies, and enjoy a slice of pie, like the folks Tardif associates with do. The trouble is you need to be over 75 and you'd be ALONE. Nobody goes there.

    Bad call Junior. But, every bit your right. Just be careful your LOUD voice doesn't overwhelm the message.

  • As an appointed official you are also obligated by your pledge to comply with the provisions of the Santa Ana Code of Ethics and Conduct, including the following provisions:
    SHOW RESPECT FOR THE PUBLIC
    Treat the public with patience, courtesy and civility, even when we disagree on what is best for the community.
    To work towards consensus building and gain value from diverse opinions.
    To conduct myself in a courteous and respectful manner at all times during the performance of my official City duties.
    To encourage full participation of all persons and groups.

  • Sean Mill on May 24th: “Speaking of Buffao Wild Wings … We could’ve had one of these fine establishments here in Santa Ana but a small handful of folks including … Mike Tardif caused the applicant so many problems that they packed up and left.”

    “So it is not just medical marijuana dispensaries that Mike Tardif has an issue with, he seems to scream “NO” at new businesses in general. How does he expect us to generate any revenue if we chase all the businesses out of town? I thought he was a small government, anti-tax, Republican. It appears to me that is is nothing more than your typical NIMBY from the “Coalition of No”.”

    Sean Mill on May 25th: (in ref. to Mike Tardif) “Standing in opposition to everything and constantly acting as a contrarian to the actions of our great council majority is not going to help move our city forward. The fact that you disagree with my position and have a very hostile hatred of me does not equal a violation of the ethics code.”

  • "Why do you give Tardif a free pass when he posts horrible comments under the guise of “junior?"

    Is Tardiff a Santa Ana Commissioner, operating under the strictures of the City's Code of Ethics?

    • anon,

      LOL! I can assure you that Tardif won't be getting onto a City Commission in the next year or two. At least not with the current Council majority in charge.

      Regardless it is damned hypocritical for Tardif to cry about how folks comport themselves on the blogs while he has been quite guilty of contributing very discourteous blog comments, for years, on just about every political blog in town.

  • Sean Mill,

    Your comments scream a lack of respect, civility, courtesy and patience. Calling me a "typical NIMBY from the “Coalition of No” and accusing me of "a very hostile hatred" toward you is not true and is incredibly divisive and detrimental to consensus building.

    From the Code:
    Attitudes, words, and actions should demonstrate, support, and reflect ... qualities and characteristics for the well being of our community.

    Your behavior in this matter is not a reflection of the community’s values. You are a disgrace to your position and to the residents of Santa Ana.

    • Mike,

      For crying out loud - you are the LAST one who should be talking about anyone else's behavior! Give it a rest. Mill has a right to his opinion, as do you.

      Rather than attacking Mill's right to free speech, why don't you just stick to debating the issues? If you can that is.

  • Admin,

    Neither junior nor Mr. Tardif are an appointed member of an official Santa Ana Commission and are therefore not pledged and held accountable to the Santa Ana Code of Ethics and Conduct as is Mr. Mill.

    Both may speak for themselves - as they represent only themselves - not the City of Santa as does Mr. Mill who is making a mockery of the Code.

    • junior,

      You have lost your mind. You and Tardif are the same person!

      That aside, I don't think the so-called "Code of Ethics" would pass muster in the courts. It is an abridgment of free speech.

  • Admin Posted
    "junior, You have lost your mind. You and Tardif are the same person!"

    really ???

    Admin also said: "That aside, I don’t think the so-called “Code of Ethics” would pass muster in the courts. It is an abridgment of free speech."

    You are probably correct admin - perhaps I should remind the Council of that - at every council meeting - and of Sean Mill's violations of their useless code. I would be doing the City a favor in calling attention to the useless code - then they could recind the code based on it's unconstitutionality.

    Do you think that the SA Council would enjoy my rant at every council meeting? Do suppose that junior and Mr. Tardif could each get 3 minutes during Public Comments?

  • I disagree with Mike's/junior's assertion that I violated anything with my comments on this blog. Regarding the City Code of Ethics he is leaving out one important clause which is, "during the performance of my official duties".

    Any comments I make on this blog are as a private citizen and not as a Planning Commissioner. None of these comments are being made "during the performance of my official duties".

    Were we to use Mr. Tardif/junior's interpretation of the code any and all elected or appointed officials code be charged with violating the code of ethics anytime someone perceived they were less than courteous in their daily lives.

    Let's say I let an elevator door close before somebody else can get on, that isn't very courteous. Should they be able to go to city hall and file a complaint?

    This whole debate over the allegations is an exercise in silliness. Mr. Tardif/junior is free to continue going to council meetings or posting on blogs that I violated the code of ethics. It just isn't the case.

    That's is all I am going to say about that.

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