Dave’s Hot Chicken has opened a record eight restaurants in a single day, marking one of the most aggressive single-day expansion moves in the brand’s history as it accelerates growth across the U.S.
The fast-casual chain will debut the eight locations on April 16, spanning a wide range of markets including Fairlawn, Ohio; Oneonta, New York; Edina, Minnesota; Gastonia, North Carolina; Arlington Heights, Illinois; Miami, Florida; Saratoga, Utah; and Waterford, Connecticut, reflecting its strategy of entering both established and emerging trade areas.
With the latest openings, Dave’s Hot Chicken has surpassed 400 restaurants globally, underscoring the scale and pace of its expansion as it continues to build out its franchise-led system.
“Opening eight restaurants in one week is a testament to the strength of our system and the commitment of our franchise partners,” said Jim Bitticks, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken. “Our focus remains on executing at a high level and ensuring every restaurant delivers the same experience our guests expect, while balancing momentum with consistency.”
The milestone highlights the brand’s ability to scale rapidly without compromising operations, driven by an established franchise model, standardized systems, and experienced multi-unit operators. The company continues to emphasize disciplined expansion, ensuring operational consistency alongside growth.
Dave’s Hot Chicken’s recent momentum follows a strong 2025, during which the brand earned multiple industry recognitions, including Fast Casual’s “Mover & Shaker” top ranking, Franchise Update Media’s award for franchise operations and technology leadership, and the Restaurant Leadership Conference Pacesetter Award. It was also named Yelp’s “Most Loved Brand” and saw its mobile app climb to the top position on the App Store.
Founded in 2017 as a parking lot pop-up in Los Angeles by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and the Rubenyan brothers, the brand has rapidly evolved into one of the fastest-growing names in the global franchise space. It has sold rights to more than 1,020 franchise locations across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Canada, with plans to open more than 70 locations this year.
As it scales, the company continues to target new markets including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico, while seeking experienced franchise partners to support its next phase of growth.
