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Dave’s Hot Chicken planning to open its first Illinois franchise in Naperville Crossings this summer
By RAFAEL GUERRERO
NAPERVILLE SUN |
MAR 11, 2021 AT 4:07 PM
Dave's Hot Chicken, which specializes in Nashville-style fried chicken tenders, kale slaw, mac and cheese, and fries, is opening its first Illinois restaurant this summer in Naperville Crossings.
Dave's Hot Chicken, which specializes in Nashville-style fried chicken tenders, kale slaw, mac and cheese, and fries, is opening its first Illinois restaurant this summer in Naperville Crossings. (Daves Hot Chicken / HANDOUT)
Dave’s Hot Chicken, a California-based chain, is making its move into the suburban Chicago market with plans to open its first Illinois restaurant in Naperville Crossings.
Phillips Edison and Co., owners of the Route 59 shopping center, announced it had signed a lease agreement with a local franchise owner for the restaurant, which specializes in fried chicken with six “heat” levels that range from no spice to “reaper.”
“Dave’s will perfectly complement our dynamic mix of retail, restaurant and entertainment options that are popular with local residents,” Andrew Schrage, senior leasing agent for Phillips Edison, said in a news release.
Raj Patel, president of the Naperville-based Hari Group, which owns the local franchise, said the plan is for Dave’s to open this summer at 2736 Showplace Drive in the 2,384-square-foot space located between Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano and Currito.
“As a lifelong Naperville resident, I’m excited to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken to the town I love – the restaurant will be a perfect addition to the popular shopping center,” Patel said in the release.
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Dave’s Hot Chicken originated in 2017, its co-founder and chef Dave Kopushyan launching the business with four childhood friends as a parking lot pop-up in East Hollywood. With a cult following emerging and long lines when it was open, they moved to their first physical store a few months later.
Its menu features of Nashville-style chicken tenders, sliders, mac and cheese, kale slaw, fries and shakes.
According to its website, Dave’s Hot Chicken has nine restaurants open in California and Canada. Another five are listed as “coming soon” in California and Oregon and a recent Instagram post announced a location is to open in Denver.
Media stories have reported Dave’s Hot Chicken expansion plans. An Eater Chicago story last summer announced the company is to open 10 locations in Chicago and its neighboring suburbs as well as Northwest Indiana.
“The chicken industry has been strong so we always had our eye on finding the right brand to bring to the Chicagoland area,” Patel said. “Once we learned a little more about the brand, we flew out to L.A. and tried the product and knew there was nothing like it.”
Burrito/salad/smoothie chain Currito is a new addition to Naperville Crossings, recently opening one of its first Illinois restaurants there. Among the other restaurants in the shopping center are MOD Pizza, Panera Bread, Houlihan’s, Paris Bistro, Taco Fresco, Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Anthem Ale House.
raguerrero@tribpub.com
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