July 5, 2023
Originally founded in 2017 as a pop-up in a Los Angeles parking lot by Chef Dave Kopushyan (who trained in Thomas Keller’s Bouchon restaurant), Arman Oganesyan, and brothers Tom and Gary Rubenyan, Dave’s Hot Chicken opened its first brick-and-mortar location in East Hollywood in 2018. Dave's quickly became extremely popular with lines around the block and well over 100k followers on Instagram. Dave's Hot Chicken now has locations dotted around the United States with franchisees continually expanding the concept around the country.
In late 2019, Dave's Hot Chicken partnered with the original investor group behind Blaze Pizza to expand the brand, including opening up to 12 total San Diego locations. The investment group behind the franchise development deal includes Bill Phelps, co-founder of the Wetzel’s Pretzels chain who is now CEO of Dave's Hot Chicken, as well as former California First Lady Maria Shriver, actor Samuel L. Jackson, Red Sox owner Tom Werner, movie producer John Davis, rapper Drake, and Good Morning America anchor and former NFL player Michael Strahan.
Dave’s Hot Chicken signed a franchise agreement with San Diegans Lawrence Kourie and Andrew Feghali to open a dozen stores in San Diego County over the next few years. The first San Diego outpost of Dave's Hot Chicken unveiled in May 2020 within the 2,000 square-foot expansive corner unit at 1001 Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach that previously housed Country Boy Fried Chicken for a record low one-month in business. Locations also opened at 10728 Westview Parkway in the Mira Mesa space that last housed a Daphne's, 110 Fletcher Parkway, Unit 101, in El Cajon, 1268 E. Auto Parkway in Escondido, and 4201 Oceanside Boulevard, Suite A, in Oceanside.
The sixth San Diego County branch of Dave's Hot Chicken is expected to open in early 2024 in the space that last housed The Greenspot Salad Company next door to a Rubio's within Mission Valley Shops plaza. Like other branches, expect an ultra-concise menu of Nashville-style fried chicken tenders and fried chicken sliders (they're really full size sandwich) with spice levels ranging from "No Heat" to "Reaper," which requires a signed waiver. The restaurants also will offer a list of sides including fries, kale slaw, and mac n' cheese, as well as a limited selection of soft drinks.
Dave's Hot Chicken will open in first quarter 2024 at 2075 Camino De La Reina, Suite B, in San Diego's Mission Valley. For more information, visit daveshotchicken.com.
