The Dave’s Hot Chicken store in Northridge, California, is among more than 60 locations in the U.S. and Canada. — Courtesy: Dave’s Hot Chicken
By Joshua Burd
A fast casual chicken brand has found its first New Jersey location after a franchisee’s newly completed lease in Wayne.
The Los Angeles-based concept, Dave’s Hot Chicken, will occupy an undisclosed amount of space at 57 Route 23 and is tentatively slated to open this coming winter, according to a news release. Its arrival will come five years after its founding by Arman Oganesyan, classically trained chef Dave Kopushyan and two friends, who launched the eatery as a parking lot pop-up, while the brand has since grown to more than 60 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Franchisee Amit Patel will operate the new location at the West Belt Plaza shopping center, near the Willowbrook Mall.
“It’s exciting to get the ball rolling on Dave’s Hot Chicken’s entrance into New Jersey,” said Patel, whose previous experience includes multi-unit ownership of several Buffalo Wild Wings and Blaze Pizza franchises throughout New Jersey. “This is an ideal site for us to establish our presence and draw customers in. Dave’s Hot Chicken is unlike anything else found in the area, and I think this location gives us a great opportunity to introduce our craveable food to the people of New Jersey.”
CBRE’s Jay Miller and Nicole Nannola represent Dave’s Hot Chicken in its central and northern New Jersey expansion plans, the news release said. The operator is seeking endcaps and freestanding locations of 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, with drive-thru infrastructure where possible.
The brand, which specializes in hot chicken tenders and sliders, currently has more than 700 units committed since announcing the franchise initiative in 2019.
