Four friends, a parking lot, and one fryer. Dave’s Hot Chicken’s story is a lesson in starting small, staying true and winning big.
Dave’s Hot Chicken started with $900 and four friends selling chicken out of a parking lot in East Hollywood. Today, it’s a billion-dollar brand with global reach and celebrity backers.
Here’s how they did it.
The Beginning (2017)
In May 2017, Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan pooled $900 to buy a fryer, ingredients, and a couple of folding tables. They set up in a parking lot and sold four combo meals. That was it.
Buzz Built Overnight (2017)
The next day, publication Eater LA wrote about the stand. Within 24 hours, queues wrapped around the block. People instantly became obsessed. Dave’s menu was minimal: tenders, sliders, and fries, but it was the spice levels and quality that made it so addictive.
Franchising Begins (2019)
By 2019, they brought in the experts, former Wetzel’s Pretzels CEO Bill Phelps and Hollywood producer John Davis. Franchising launched fast, and with serious intent. The model was simple, the demand was high, and the strategy was smart.
Enter Drake (2021)
Shortly after the brand began scaling, rapper and pop star Drake invested into the company. His involvement helped push the brand into pop culture, driving major awareness through social media. On his birthday, he even gave away free Dave’s combos to people, turning customer lines into PR moments.
Dave’s Go Global (2024)
By late 2024, Dave’s had over 280 locations across the U.S., Canada, UK, Middle East, and more. 1,000+ more are sold in franchise rights. Sales hit $600M in 2023 and are expected to double by the end of 2025.
Their $1 Billion Moment (2025)
In June 2025, Roark Capital, owners of Subway and Dunkin’, acquired a majority stake, valuing the business at $1B. The founding team stayed, and so did the vision.
Business as Usual
Their menu still sticks to tenders, sliders, mac, and slaw. Seven spice levels. No fluff. Their stores continue to appeal, through a rough ‘n ready aesthetic and customers love it.
With Drake as a backer and TikTok pulling millions of views, Dave’s employees received year-long bonuses after the $1B deal with Roark, proving that Dave’s Hot Chicken is a brand with heat, and heart.
