Seekonk BBQ Spot Says It Must Close Due to Conflict With Buffalo Wild Wings

SEEKONK (WBSM) — A popular SouthCoast barbeque restaurant said it is being forced to close one of its locations due to an issue with a larger chain restaurant in the same plaza.

Kinfolks Smokin’ BBQ announced on Facebook this morning that it will be “terminating operations” at its Seekonk location on December 31.

“Just devastated,” the post began.

Get our free mobile app

Seekonk Plaza on Highland Avenue, in which Kinfolks Fried Chicken & BBQ is located, is owned by D’Angelo Real Estate, which according to its website, “developed as an offshoot of the D'Angelo Sandwich Shop chain.”

There is a D’Angelo shop in the plaza, along with a Town Fair Tire and a Buffalo Wild Wings. Apparently, the issue is with both Kinfolks and Buffalo Wild Wings serving fried chicken.

“Unfortunately, a conflict in the lease restricts the sale of most of our fried products. This issue was not identified by D'Angelo's properties when we signed the lease in July, but was recently brought to our attention by Buffalo Wild Wings,” the restaurant wrote. “Despite efforts to negotiate a revised menu, Buffalo Wild Wings declined our proposal.”

Kinfolks had previously sought to open in Fall River this past spring, but those plans fell through and the Seekonk location was opened instead.

We have reached out to both Kinfolks and Buffalo Wild Wings for more information and will update this story if it is provided.

Kinfolks said it will be extending its operations at its Taunton location at 289 Winthrop Street to seven days a week with longer hours on the weekend. The Taunton location is also in a plaza owned by D’Angelo Properties.