Los Angeles-founded fast-casual chain Dave’s Hot Chicken is expanding deeper into Tennessee with new restaurants planned for the Nashville metro area, including a Madison location expected to open in October 2026 and another site planned for Smyrna later this year.
The Madison restaurant will be located at 1705 Gallatin Pike N, approximately 13 miles from downtown Nashville, according to the company’s latest announcement.
The Tennessee expansion is being led by an existing Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise operating group headed by brothers Jason and John Hotchkiss and their brother-in-law Paul Gorman. The group also includes Ryan Hotchkiss and operating partner Mike Van Slambrouck, who will oversee operations for the upcoming restaurants.
While the Tennessee restaurants are being developed by local franchise operators, Dave’s Hot Chicken as a brand was founded in Los Angeles in 2017 by chef Dave Kopushyan along with Arman Oganesyan and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. The company started as a parking lot pop-up with an initial investment of $900 before rapidly growing into one of the fastest-growing hot chicken chains in the US.
“As the brand enters the Middle Tennessee area, it aims to honour the roots of Nashville Hot Chicken while introducing its own bold flavour, chef-inspired, and fast-casual execution,” the company said in its release.
The brand has expanded aggressively in recent years through franchising and now has more than 400 locations worldwide either open or in development. The company has sold rights to more than 1,000 franchise locations across the US, Canada, the Middle East and Europe, while targeting more than 150 openings during 2026 alone.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is known for its Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders served across seven spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to the signature “Reaper.” The menu also includes kale slaw, mac & cheese, fries and vegetarian cauliflower-based offerings.
The Tennessee expansion comes as the chain continues to strengthen its franchise leadership team and development pipeline. Earlier this year, the company appointed Joshua Liggins as Vice President of Franchise Development to support domestic and international growth initiatives.
