Dave’s Hot Chicken History: Founders, Origin Story and Who Owns It (2026)
Dave’s Hot Chicken grew from a small East Hollywood parking lot stand into one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in North America. Founded in 2017 by four childhood friends, the brand later attracted celebrity investors and a billion-dollar acquisition deal. This guide covers the complete history, all four founders, ownership details, and the full growth timeline. All information is sourced from publicly available records. This is an unofficial reference guide and is not affiliated with Dave’s Hot Chicken LLC.
When was Dave’s Hot Chicken founded?
Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded in May 2017 in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The company is now headquartered in Pasadena, California.
| Key Fact | Detail |
| Founded | May 2, 2017 |
| Starting location | East Hollywood, Los Angeles |
| Starting capital | $900 |
| Current HQ | Pasadena, California |
| Locations (2026) | 400+ worldwide |
The East Hollywood Beginning
The first Dave’s Hot Chicken was a parking lot pop-up. Here is exactly how it started:
- Four friends contributed a combined $900
- They bought a portable fryer and basic ingredients
- They set up folding tables from their backyards in an East Hollywood parking lot
- On the first night they sold four combo meals
- They promoted the stand on Instagram with no marketing budget
- Customers returned and brought others with them
- An Eater LA reporter visited and published the article “East Hollywood’s New Late-Night Hot Chicken Stand Might Blow Your Mind.”
- Demand increased rapidly after the article was published
- Lines began forming down the street within days
Former CEO Bill Phelps later described this as widely regarded as an unusual restaurant startup story, noting that the founders had started from a parking lot with a portable fryer and picnic tables from their backyards.
Who Are the Dave’s Hot Chicken Founders?
Dave’s Hot Chicken was co-founded by four Armenian-American childhood friends from Los Angeles.
Dave Kopushyan: the trained chef who created the recipe, dry rub, and spice system. The restaurant is named after him.
Arman Oganesyan: the co-founder who conceived the idea and drove the brand’s early marketing. Bill Phelps later described him as one of the best marketers he had worked with.
Tommy Rubenyan: one of the earliest supporters who provided funding when others declined.
Gary Rubenyan: Tommy’s older brother who joined after the media coverage began driving demand beyond what three people could manage.
Who is Dave Kopushyan?
Dave Kopushyan is the chef and co-founder of Dave’s Hot Chicken. He built the recipe that the brand is based on.
Kopushyan attended the Art Institute of California in Los Angeles. He became highly interested in spices and flavor development during his studies. After culinary school he went to work for Thomas Keller at the Bouchon restaurants.
Thomas Keller is widely considered one of the most accomplished chefs in the United States. He owns the French Laundry in Yountville, California, a three-Michelin-star restaurant. Working at Bouchon gave Kopushyan a level of technical precision that influenced how he would later develop Dave’s recipe.
When Arman Oganesyan first proposed the hot chicken concept, Kopushyan was not immediately interested. He told Oganesyan: “Chicken? First of all, I don’t even like chicken.” After further discussion, Kopushyan agreed to develop the recipe. The spice blend, dry rub technique, and consistency standards he established became the foundation of the brand.
For more on the menu he created, see the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu with prices and spice levels guide.
What is Nashville Hot Chicken and Why Did Dave’s Choose It?
Nashville hot chicken is a style of fried chicken that originated in Nashville, Tennessee. It is most closely associated with Thornton Prince III and Prince’s Hot Chicken, the restaurant credited with creating the style. The dish uses a cayenne-heavy dry rub or spice paste applied to fried chicken, producing a bold, spiced coating.
By 2017, Nashville-style hot chicken was gaining visibility in Los Angeles. The founders saw growing customer interest in the format. They were also influenced by the operating model of In-N-Out Burger. In-N-Out had built a strong following by maintaining a simple, focused menu and executing it consistently at a high level.
Dave’s approach combined a Michelin-trained chef’s technical standards with a format designed to be simple and repeatable. This combination separated the product from other fried chicken concepts in Los Angeles at the time.
Dave’s Hot Chicken Growth Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
| May 2017 | Parking lot pop-up launched in East Hollywood |
| Late 2018 | The first permanent restaurant opened in nearby strip mall |
| 2019 | Franchise agreement signed – Bill Phelps named CEO |
| 2020 | Canada deal signed – 25 locations planned |
| January 2021 | Toronto opened – the first international location |
| 2021 | Drake became an investor – 30+ new US locations opened |
| 2021 | Expanded into Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon and Texas |
| September 2022 | Dubai, UAE, opened. |
| November 2022 | Doha, Qatar, opened. |
| July 2023 | Riyadh Saudi Arabia, opened |
| 2023 | Named America’s Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chain by Technomic |
| December 2024 | London, UK, opened on Shaftesbury Avenue |
| June 2025 | Roark Capital acquired majority stake |
| January 2026 | Jim Bitticks named new CEO |
| 2026 | 800+ locations in development pipeline |
Celebrity Investors Who Backed Dave’s Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken attracted investment from well-known figures in two main periods.
2019 investor group:
- Bill Phelps — former CEO and co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels, joined as CEO of Dave’s
- John Davis — film producer
- Maria Shriver — author and former First Lady of California
- Michael Strahan — television presenter and former NFL player
- Tom Werner — chairman and part owner of the Boston Red Sox
2021 onwards:
- Drake — rapper and recording artist, invested and used his social media profile to promote the brand. Many people still confuse his role in the company and wonder whether he became an owner or simply a celebrity investor. Learn more about Drake’s role in Dave’s Hot Chicken
- Samuel L. Jackson — actor
- Usher — recording artist
Drake did not found Dave’s Hot Chicken. He joined as an investor in 2021, four years after the brand launched.
Who Owns Dave’s Hot Chicken Now?
Roark Capital Group holds the majority stake in Dave’s Hot Chicken following an acquisition in June 2025. According to company statements at the time, the deal was valued at approximately $1 billion.
Roark Capital is a private equity firm with a significant portfolio in the restaurant industry. Its holdings include Dunkin’, Subway, Arby’s, and the Inspire Brands group.
The original founders did not sell their full stake. Co-founder Arman Oganesyan confirmed in a published interview with The Armenian Report that the founders retained approximately 30% ownership, divided equally between all four partners. “We still maintained a good amount of ownership,” Oganesyan said.
Following the acquisition, the founding shareholders contributed approximately $60 million of their own proceeds to an employee bonus pool. According to public reports, store managers and long-term team members who had contributed to the brand’s growth received bonuses from this fund.
The founders stated publicly that they intend to maintain the brand’s existing food quality, chicken sourcing, and operational culture under the new ownership structure.
In January 2026, Jim Bitticks was named the new CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken. He replaced Bill Phelps, who had served in the role since 2019.
How big is Dave’s Hot Chicken today?
According to company reports and public data available as of early 2026:
- The chain had reached over 400 locations worldwide
- Operations span more than 45 US states
- International locations include Canada, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UK, and Australia
- US systemwide sales exceeded $600 million, representing a 57% increase from the previous year according to Technomic data
- The company projected $1.2 billion in annual sales
- The brand had accumulated over 200 million organic views on TikTok
- More than 800 locations were reported to be in the development pipeline
In 2023, Technomic named Dave’s Hot Chicken America’s Fastest Growing Restaurant Chain after recording 156% growth in systemwide sales in a single year.
For a full list of current locations, see the Dave’s Hot Chicken locations directory.
When was Dave’s Hot Chicken founded?
Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded in May 2017. The first location was a parking lot pop-up in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
Who is the Dave’s Hot Chicken founder?
Dave’s Hot Chicken was co-founded by four people: Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. All four are Armenian-American and grew up together in Los Angeles.
Who is Dave Kopushyan?
Dave Kopushyan is the chef and co-founder of Dave’s Hot Chicken. He studied at the Art Institute of California and worked under chef Thomas Keller at the Bouchon restaurants before creating the spice recipe and dry rub technique used at Dave’s.
Who owns Dave’s Hot Chicken now?
Roark Capital Group holds the majority stake following an acquisition valued at approximately $1 billion in June 2025. The original four founders retained around 30% ownership, divided equally between them.
Did Drake start Dave’s Hot Chicken?
No. Drake did not found Dave’s Hot Chicken. The restaurant was founded in 2017 by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. Drake became an investor in 2021.
How much did Roark Capital pay for Dave’s Hot Chicken?
According to statements made by then-CEO Bill Phelps on CNBC, the deal was valued at approximately $1 billion.
Is Dave’s Hot Chicken still owned by the original founders?
Partially. According to co-founder Arman Oganesyan, the original founders retained approximately 30% ownership after the Roark Capital acquisition, divided equally between all four partners.
Who is the current CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Jim Bitticks was named CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken in January 2026, replacing Bill Phelps who had led the company since 2019.
Is Dave’s Hot Chicken a franchise?
Yes. Dave’s Hot Chicken began franchising in 2019 following a deal with an investor group that included Bill Phelps. As of 2026, the majority of locations operate under franchise agreements. The company has more than 800 locations in its development pipeline.
Why is Dave’s Hot Chicken so popular?
Several factors contributed to its growth. The food quality stood out because a Michelin-trained chef developed the recipe. The concept was simple and focused. Early Instagram promotion created organic visibility before the brand had any advertising budget. Media coverage from Eater LA drove the first major surge in demand. Celebrity investors including Drake added cultural visibility. Consistent quality across franchise locations sustained growth over time.
How many Dave’s Hot Chicken locations are there?
According to company reports available in early 2026, Dave’s Hot Chicken operated over 400 locations worldwide across the United States, Canada, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
What does Reaper level mean at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
The Reaper is the highest of the seven spice levels available at Dave’s Hot Chicken. It is made with Carolina Reaper pepper and is available at all locations. Most locations require customers to sign a waiver before ordering it. For a full breakdown of all seven spice levels, see the [Dave’s Hot Chicken spice levels guide].
Dave’s Hot Chicken built its reputation on a focused menu, a chef-developed recipe, and a startup story that resonated with people who value effort over capital. Under Roark Capital’s ownership, the founders have stated their intention to preserve the food quality and culture that drove the brand’s growth. Whether that holds over time remains to be seen, but as of 2026, the brand continues to expand at a pace few chains in the industry have matched.
This is an unofficial informational guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Dave’s Hot Chicken LLC. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Historical facts are sourced from publicly available records including Wikipedia, CNBC, The Armenian Report, official Dave’s Hot Chicken press releases, and Technomic research data. Figures related to locations, revenue, and ownership percentages may change. Always verify current information with official sources.