Dave’s Hot Chicken is doubling down on Jacksonville, with a second restaurant set to open at River City Marketplace on March 13. The new River City spot will join the chain’s existing St. Johns Town Center location and bring another drive-thru option to the Northside.
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, the March 13 opening is part of a broader expansion push from the chain’s private-equity owners. The outlet notes that the Northside restaurant is one of several new locations backed by the brand’s latest ownership group.
Where it will sit
Plans show Dave’s will move into the former Pollo Tropical space at River City Marketplace on Jacksonville’s Northside, a site where city permits were filed late last year, according to the Florida Times-Union. The spot sits between a McDonald’s and a VyStar branch and had been on the radar for other quick-service concepts after Pollo Tropical closed.
What to expect
The roughly 3,300-square-foot space is being converted into a full Dave’s setup with indoor and outdoor seating and a drive-thru. The franchisee projected hiring about 40 to 45 workers as permits advanced, the Jacksonville Daily Record reports. “We believe in this site so strongly we said, ‘It’s gotta be there,’” the franchise group told the paper while moving ahead with renovations.
Bigger growth push
The Northside opening comes as Dave’s ramps up a national rollout after its mid-2025 acquisition by private-equity firm Roark Capital, a deal industry reporting said was intended to accelerate franchise growth. The AP reported that Roark’s purchase was valued at roughly $1 billion and positioned the brand for rapid expansion.
Once doors open, local diners can expect Dave’s core lineup of tenders, sliders and classic sides, along with the chain’s tiered spice scale. This story will be updated with hours, promotions and opening-day details as they are announced.
