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Dave's Hot Chicken Opens Its 500th Location

Dave's Hot Chicken has reached an impressive milestone, marking the opening of its 500th restaurant on October 8, 2026, in vibrant Phoenix, Arizona. This achievement highlights the brand's remarkable growth trajectory since its launch, which began just a few years ago with humble origins involving three friends, $900, and portable fryers.

A Tasty Beginning

Founded in 2017, Dave's Hot Chicken started as a late-night pop-up in an East Hollywood parking lot. It quickly captured attention and drew long lines, becoming a beloved local favorite. The initial success was driven by a passion for crafting the best hot chicken and an unexpected early review from Eater LA, which helped surge demand far beyond expectations.

Recognizing the potential for expansion, the founders decided to transition from a pop-up to a brick-and-mortar endeavor within months. This proactive approach not only facilitated their growth but caught the attention of notable entrepreneur Bill Phelps, co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels, who played a key role in franchising the brand nationwide.

Growth and Expansion

The brand reached its 400th restaurant milestone earlier in 2026 and has since accelerated its development, adding around 100 new restaurants. Notably, in April alone, a record-breaking eight new locations opened in a single day, covering diverse markets from Connecticut to Utah. This remarkable growth illustrates the strength of Dave's franchise model and its commitment to providing consistent quality and guest experience across all locations.

Jim Bitticks, CEO of Dave's Hot Chicken, remarks, "Reaching 500 restaurants is an incredible milestone, especially when you consider where Dave's started and how quickly the brand has grown. It reflects the strength of our franchise partners and our operating model, alongside the dedicated teams supporting each restaurant diligently."

Major Market Presence

Dave's Hot Chicken has made its mark not only in major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas but is also making headway internationally. The brand recently made its European debut with a flagship restaurant on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue, beginning a 60-restaurant development agreement in the UK and Ireland. They have since partnered with Azzurri Group for further expansion, with plans for an additional 180 locations spread across countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and beyond.

The scale of Dave's expansion is astonishing, with over 1,020 franchise locations sold worldwide. It also plans to open more than 70 new restaurants within the year, continually bringing its signature hot chicken to diverse audiences and markets.

A Strong Foundation

Dave's Hot Chicken was co-founded by Arman Oganesyan and renowned chef Dave Kopushyan, along with brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. The restaurant chain not only serves up delicious Nashville-style hot chicken but offers a robust business model for franchise operators, including national and local marketing support, operational procedures, and assistance in site selection.

As the company navigates its impressive growth, they are actively seeking experienced restaurant operators and franchise groups to further develop in key markets such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

In an extraordinary journey that reflects the modern American dream, Dave’s Hot Chicken continues to expand its footprint, thriving on its founding principle of serving mind-blowing hot chicken while fostering a community of passionate franchisees and loyal customers. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit their official website: Dave's Hot Chicken Franchising.

Conclusion

The future appears bright for Dave's Hot Chicken as it embarks on new adventures across the globe, one finger-licking location at a time. With its commitment to quality food and customer satisfaction still at the forefront, Dave's Hot Chicken is bound to keep taking the culinary world by storm.