Dave's Hot Chicken is rolling into Summit Mall this Friday, April 17, bringing its Nashville-style tenders and sliders to Fairlawn's streetside dining strip. The new spot adds a late-night quick-service option for shoppers and nearby residents, complete with the chain's seven heat levels and comfort sides like mac and cheese and kale slaw. The restaurant will sit on the mall's exterior streetscape and offer pickup and walk-up ordering, so expect a line of spice-seekers on opening weekend as the crew gets into rhythm.
Opening date and hours
According to Cleveland.com, the Fairlawn restaurant, on the exterior rim of Summit Mall, is scheduled to open Friday, April 17, 2026. Cleveland.com reports the planned hours are 10:30 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday through Thursday hours set for 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., giving late-night mall walkers and nearby residents another option beyond the usual food court suspects.
Location and menu details
The chain's official location page lists the address as 3265 W. Market Street, Suite 100B, and currently tags the Fairlawn restaurant as "coming soon," according to Dave's Hot Chicken. The site highlights the core menu of hand-breaded chicken tenders and sliders, plus sides such as mac and cheese, fries and kale slaw, and it pushes the brand's app and loyalty program for ordering and earning rewards.
Where it will sit at Summit Mall
Simon, which owns Summit Mall, already has Dave's Hot Chicken pinned on its store map, placing the unit next to P.F. Chang's on the streetscape. The mall listing still shows store hours as "Coming soon" while the last of the lease build-out and finishing touches wrap up.
Part of a bigger expansion
The Fairlawn debut is one small piece of a much larger rollout. QSR Magazine reported that the brand opened multiple new locations in mid-April, a push that nudged Dave's past the 400-store mark and underscored an aggressive franchise growth plan for the year. That surge has made the chain a familiar sight in shopping centers and retail corridors across the country, with Summit Mall now joining the roster.
Celebrity tie and company background
Dave's started as a small Los Angeles pop-up in 2017 and quickly drew a following big enough to attract celebrity money. Rapper Drake signed on as an investor in 2021, giving the brand a high-profile co-sign. The company was later acquired by private-equity firm Roark Capital in 2025 in a deal valued near $1 billion, according to AP News, providing the financial muscle behind the current franchise blitz.
What to know before you go
Opening weekend is likely to be busy, especially during peak meal times, so plan for crowds and app-driven ordering while staff settle into a routine. The mall's leasing announcements indicate local hiring has accompanied the build-out, according to Simon. For the latest on hours and any opening promos, check the Fairlawn location page and the Summit Mall store listing before you head over.
