You must sign a waiver to eat this chain’s spiciest chicken. It plans 10 KC locations
California-based Dave’s Hot Chicken has a new franchisee who wants to open 15 locations in the region with the focus on the Kansas City metro, as well as Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska.
The rapidly growing chain was founded as a parking lot pop-up in 2017 by classically trained chef Dave Kopushyan and three friends, and it soon drew long lines.
It currently has more than 40 fast-casual restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, and said it has commitments for more than 400 units under franchise agreements.
Dave’s Hot Chicken specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, with spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper” (which requires customers to sign a release of claims waiver).
Sides include kale slaw, macaroni and cheese, fries and cheese fries. It also has milkshakes.
Brothers Dave, Curt, Mike and Gary Staab of Spicybros Chicken LLC in Nebraska are the new regional franchisees focusing on Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. They are seeking sites of about 2,000 to 3,000 square feet — end-caps of shopping centers or strip centers and freestanding locations, with drive-thru options a plus.
The Staab brothers have 67 Pizza Hut locations in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. Curt Staab also previously had a dozen Wendy’s.
“Chicken is definitely a growing segment and we really like the quality of the food — the tenders and the sliders and the seven levels of spices,” he said. “We’re just excited to bring this brand to the Kansas City area.”
His group plans 10 metro locations in five years and hopes to open at least one by the end of the year.
According to Nation’s Restaurant News, a trade publication, singer Drake recently became Dave’s latest celebrity investor and brand ambassador. Additional brand investors include actor Samuel L. Jackson and “Good Morning America” anchor and retired National Football League player Michael Strahan.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 12:41 PM.