Hot chicken restaurant backed by Drake, Samuel L. Jackson opening in Johnson County
Dave’s Hot Chicken, a spicy chicken restaurant backed by superstar investors including Drake and Samuel L. Jackson, is opening its first Kansas City area location in Overland Park Aug. 4.
The restaurant at 9097 Metcalf Ave. will serve tenders and chicken sandwiches with a side of coleslaw, fries and its special “Dave’s sauce.” Spice levels range from “No spice” to “Reaper,” which is made from the scorching Carolina Reaper pepper and requires customers to sign a waiver before indulging.
The new location sits next to the Promontory Apartments.
In mid- to late September, the restaurant will open a Westport location at 4121 Broadway Blvd., according to managing partner Curt Staab.
Best friends Arman Oganesyan and Tommy and Gary Rubenyan teamed up with classically trained chef Dave Kopushyan to start the restaurant in an East Hollywood parking lot in 2017. The following year, the crew opened their first brick-and-mortar location.
Now, it has more than 120 locations across the country and several more opening soon.
In 2021, the company announced that “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling” rapper Drake had purchased a minority stake in the company: “A spokesperson confirmed that he and Jackson have sustained their investment in the hot chicken restaurant, as well as retired New York Giants football player Michael Strahan.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
