MILWAUKEE — Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based street food sensation turned breakthrough fast-casual brand, announced today it has inked a franchise agreement with experienced multi-unit restaurant operators Mike Pranke and Ron Stokes, to open 14 locations across Southeast Wisconsin.
“Wisconsin is a key state to us further establishing ourselves in the Midwest. Operators like Mike and Ron have the right kind of business acumen and knowledge of the area to help us establish a solid base,” said Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken. “I’m excited for the people of Wisconsin to try our product and believe in the hype we’ve generated.”
The Dave’s Hot Chicken model works well in a variety of floor plans. The team is seeking 2,000 to 2,500 square feet endcaps and freestanding locations, with drive-thru infrastructure a plus.
“I’ve been following the growth of Dave’s lately and, after doing my due diligence, knew this was the kind of brand we wanted to be a part of,” said Stokes. “The Nashville hot chicken category is huge right now and Dave’s is on the forefront of it. We are excited to bring the intense flavorings that Dave’s has to offer to Wisconsin for more people to enjoy.”
In addition to this deal with Dave’s Hot Chicken, Pranke and Stokes lead the largest Qdoba franchise in the country, with 58 stores across Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.
Founded by classically-trained chef Dave Kopushyan and three friends in early 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken initially opened as a parking lot pop-up, with lines quickly wrapping around the block. Since then, the brand has exploded in popularity and now has 20 brick-and-mortar locations open in several states and Canada. Today, the fast-casual brand has its sights set on growing throughout the United States and currently has more than 400 units committed since announcing the franchise initiative in 2019.
“I wanted to make sure we were aligned with an experienced operator as we made our entrance into Wisconsin, and I’m thrilled to bring on someone like Mike and Ron to do so,” said Shannon Swenson, VP of Franchise Development at Dave’s Hot Chicken. “With their proven track record with other restaurant brands, I’m confident in their ability to launch Dave’s Hot Chicken in the state.”
Specializing in hot chicken tenders and sliders, with spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper,” each restaurant also serves sides of house-made Kale Slaw, creamy Mac & Cheese and crispy Fries or Cheese Fries.
Dave’s Hot Chicken offers a robust business model, including national and local marketing support, proven systems, manuals and operating procedures, as well as assistance with site selection. As the brand expands, it is seeking qualified, experienced, and passionate restaurant operators and franchise groups to develop the concept in key markets.
To learn more about Dave’s Hot Chicken and its franchise opportunities, visit www.daveshotchicken.com/franchising.
About Dave’s Hot Chicken
In a modern-day American dream story, Arman Oganesyan and best friend Chef Dave Kopushyan, along with brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan, launched Dave’s Hot Chicken in a parking lot pop-up in 2017. Dave’s Hot Chicken quickly took off, opening its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in East Hollywood. In 2019, the team struck a deal with Wetzel’s Pretzels co-founder and former CEO, Bill Phelps, and movie producer John Davis to begin franchising the Dave’s Hot Chicken concept throughout the U.S. and beyond. The company has sold the rights to over 400 franchise locations in the U.S. and Canada and will open an additional 30 to 40 locations this year. In 2021, Dave’s Hot Chicken was listed as one of the Top 10 hottest brands by Fast Casual on its annual list of industry Movers & Shakers. Harkening back to an Eater LA blog that helped propel early interest in the brand, the company’s mission is to “blow their minds.” Additional brand investors include multiplatinum music artist Drake, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, Red Sox owner Tom Werner, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and Good Morning America anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan.
