Technomic just named the chain America’s Fastest Growing Restaurant Chain, and more than 700 new locations are on the way. Dave’s Hot Chicken also has over 200 million organic views on TikTok, has the highest Instagram followers per restaurant of any national fast-casual brand, and has seen sales increase 156% over the past year, according to a press release.
In the release, Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken, said, “Dave’s Hot Chicken has one of the greatest origin stories in the restaurant business. The founders started Dave’s as a pop-up restaurant in a Hollywood parking lot with a portable fryer and picnic tables from their backyards.”
“The company’s almost unheard-of growth rate is due to the founders’ vision for this brand, the great leadership team we’ve put together, and the unwavering dedication of some of the most experienced franchisees,” Phelps said.
An inspiring story and a popular product are a great start, but that will only take you so far. So, what exactly is this chicken chain doing that makes it so successful? The Food Institute took a closer look with help from industry insiders.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has become a nationwide hit thanks to its spicy fried chicken that people can’t get enough of. But how did this huge brand get its start? Like many great American success stories, Dave’s Hot Chicken started out small: with three childhood friends, a parking lot, and a dream.
In 2017, Armando De La Torre Jr. teamed up with his buddy Dave Kopushyan, a trained chef, to launch a new culinary venture right in East Hollywood. With just $900 and a portable fryer, they set up shop in a parking lot next to a local dive bar. Their menu? Nashville-style hot chicken, inspired by Dave’s family recipe.
That first night, they served about 140 people. Social media went crazy with talk about this tasty new hot chicken pop-up. The next night, the line was wrapped around the block. An influential food blogger even declared it “mind-blowing. It was clear that Dave’s Hot Chicken had found something big.
Soon, a third friend joined the team, bringing some business acumen. In 2018, they opened up their first bricks-and-mortar restaurant in East Hollywood. Customers kept flocking for the juicy, spicy, crispy-on-the-outside tenders. The addictive flavors were like nothing else in LA at the time.
Dave’s began expanding quickly throughout California, bringing Nashville heat to the West Coast. Their signature styles also gained fame, with spice levels like “Reaper” for the truly brave and “No Spice” for the timid. Before long, they took the leap into new states.
Today, Dave’s Hot Chicken has over 30 locations across the United States and nearly 1,900 employees. You can find outposts everywhere from Dallas to Chicago. Yet despite this incredible growth, they stay true to their roots, still whipping up made-to-order chicken fresh daily.
The people who started Dave’s say that word of mouth and social media helped them a lot. Early fans couldn’t help but post pictures of the delicious chicken online. This attention going viral was the best way to market a new brand. People are still excited about and hungry for Dave’s because of it.
Of course, the most important factor is Dave’s never-changing dedication to quality. Their chicken is always hand-breaded to order using thoughtful, high-end ingredients. Customer service remains paramount, aiming to “wow” guests. This commitment shines through in every tender.
For Armando, Dave, and their team, the parking lot pop-up will always be part of their origin story. It serves as a reminder that vision and persistence can turn an underdog into a champion. Now, they look ahead to bringing Nashville spice to even more communities, staying grounded in their roots
Dave’s meteoric rise is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. It proves that you don’t need a huge budget or years of experience to launch something great. You need passion, grit and a stand-out product that keeps fans coming back. Dave’s Hot Chicken checks every one of those boxes.
Here are some of the key milestones and facts behind this incredible hot chicken success story
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Founded in 2017 by childhood friends Armando De La Torre Jr. and chef Dave Kopushyan in East Hollywood, Los Angeles
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First location was a parking lot pop-up serving hot chicken tenders and sliders
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Quickly earned local buzz and lines around the block thanks to Dave’s family hot chicken recipe
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Expanded into their first official restaurant in 2018 in East Hollywood
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Early fanbase spread via word-of-mouth and Instagram
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Now has over 30 locations in the U.S., including California, Texas, Arizona, and more
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Employs nearly 1,900 people as of 2022
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Serves bone-in chicken, tenders, sliders, salads and sides like mac and cheese
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Signature spice levels range from no heat to the fiery “Reaper”
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Stays true to handmade, fresh-cooked food and quality ingredients
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Plans to continue expanding in new markets across the U.S.
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Still honors their humble parking lot beginnings as key to their success
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Social media buzz and loyal customers fueled rapid growth for the brand
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Commitment to customer service and experience is central to their values
The history of Dave’s Hot Chicken is one of love, hard work, and delicious food. It shows how important it is to keep your roots in mind as you grow and reach new heights. The most important thing is that it shows that anyone with determination and a great idea can make their dreams come true, even if they have to start in a parking lot. Our founders at Dave’s did what they thought was right, and now we all enjoy the spicy results.
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Why is Fried Chicken Still so Popular?
Dave’s Hot Chicken isn’t the only chicken chain that’s finding success. Raising Cane’s and Super Chix are two chicken chains that have been making waves in the fast food world lately. Why is that? According to R. J. Hottovy, Placer. ai’s head of analytical research, it’s the versatility of the protein and the fact that it can be prepared in a number of ways to suit individual preferences.
Dan Rowe, CEO of Fransmart, added that chicken is also one of the most popular proteins.
“Chicken is pervasive and a safe default for anyone trying a new brand,” Rowe told FI. “Hot chicken in particular – like Nashville hot chicken, etc. – is the flavor of the day with chicken, and Dave’s Hot Chicken owns the segment.
What Sets Dave’s Hot Chicken Apart?
Savvy business moves have helped put Dave’s on top. Recently, The Wall Street Journal highlighted some of the ways the chain was able to accommodate a $2 an hour wage increase for its employees.
Dave’s didn’t just raise its prices; it also found ways to be more efficient and cut costs. For example, for orders to go, sauce packets were given out instead of plastic cups being filled.
“The quick-service restaurant business has had trouble for a long time with labor costs and availability,” Hottovy said of Dave’s Hot Chicken. “The chain’s efforts to improve efficiency have been smart.”
“By implementing automatic dishwashers, grease-extracting machines, and outsourcing chicken marination to external vendors, Dave’s Hot Chicken reduces staffing needs while still enabling crew members to engage with customers.”
The Truth About Dave’s Hot Chicken
FAQ
How did Dave’s hot chicken start?
Dave’s Hot Chicken “started in a parking lot eight years ago,” according to CNBC. “There were three kids that wanted to support their parents and they only had $900 in savings,”‘ and so they did a pop-up in Hollywood and then a writer gave them a shout-out, and a line developed, CEO Bill Phelps told CNBC in an interview on the $1 billion deal.
Who owns Dave’s hot chicken?
It was purchased by a rival. Dave’s Hot Chicken started in an East Hollywood parking lot in 2017 and then exploded in popularity due to a news article and Instagram. Now, only eight years later, the beloved fried chicken chain, which was founded by three childhood friends, has sold for $1 billion.
What happened to Dave’s hot chicken?
Dave’s Hot Chicken Started in a Parking Lot. It Just Sold for $1 Billion It was purchased by a rival. Dave’s Hot Chicken began in a parking lot in East Hollywood in 2017. A news story and Instagram made it very popular very quickly.
Why did Dave’s hot chicken become a franchise?
The company also decided to make its restaurant into a chain of franchises, putting the financial onus on third-party owners to cover the cost of respective brick and mortar locations. Dave’s Hot Chicken has taken not just the U. S. by storm but the world to become an international franchise with over 100 locations.
Who is Dave’s hot chicken?
If you haven’t heard of Dave’s Hot Chicken, consider yourself in the minority. What started as an entrepreneurial venture among four friends has seemingly overnight grown into an enterprise rivaling the likes of KFC, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A. The Nashville-style hot chicken chain is taking over the country.
Why is Dave’s hot chicken so popular?
The legend of Dave’s Hot Chicken didn’t just spread by word of mouth. The chain credits much of its popularity, especially in its early days, to the power of social media. When Dave’s was still operating out of a parking lot, co-founder Arman Oganesyan began promoting the business on Instagram.
Where did Dave’s hot chicken originate?
Founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California with a single restaurant, the chain expanded to over 100 locations in four countries by mid-2022. Dave’s Hot Chicken celebrity investors include Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, Maria Shriver, Michael Strahan and Tom Werner.
Where did the hot chicken takeover start?
Founded in 2014, Hot Chicken Takeover started as a pop-up window in Columbus’ Olde Towne East neighborhood. Today, we have restaurants throughout Central Ohio and one restaurant located just outside Cleveland.
Where did Asad’s hot chicken originate?
Asad Khan, the founder of Asad’s Hot Chicken, revolutionized the world of spicy comfort food in Philadelphia by combining bold flavors with a unique twist on the classic Nashville hot chicken.
Where did Ezell’s chicken start?
