Things are about to get a lot spicier in Somers Point. Dave's Hot Chicken is headed for Ocean Heights Plaza on Bethel Road, bringing its Nashville-style tenders, sliders and milkshakes to the shore town. The chain's notorious "Reaper" spice level, an ultra-hot option that requires customers to sign a waiver, will be on the menu. The arrival is the latest sign of national chains filling out Somers Point's retail strip ahead of summer.
Where It's Going
The shopping-center site plan lists Dave's Hot Chicken at 319 Bethel Road in Ocean Heights Plaza and shows the brand taking a roughly 3,000-square-foot unit that sits beside Hallmark and Jersey Mike's. The drawing identifies Dave's as space 300, Hallmark as 300A and Jersey Mike's as 300B, according to Brixmor's site plan.
Local Build-Out
Local reporting on Somers Point's current wave of development lists Dave's among several incoming national concepts and notes there was no visible interior build-out when the reporter visited the plaza. That roundup places the Dave's announcement alongside other recent commitments for the town's commercial corridors and does not quote a firm opening date from the restaurant or landlord. As a result, neighbors should expect planning and tenant work to continue through the spring and summer months as other projects move forward in the area, according to 42Freeway.
Menu and the Reaper Challenge
Dave's menu revolves around oversized chicken tenders served on sliced bread and sliders stacked with pickles, house-made kale slaw and Dave's chipotle mayo, plus sides like fries, mac and cheese and milkshakes. The chain offers seven heat levels, from "No Spice" up to the Reaper. For the top tier, customers must acknowledge and accept a waiver before ordering, as shown on the brand's menu pages. The chain's current menu and waiver language are available on the Dave's Hot Chicken website.
From A Parking-Lot Pop-Up To Hundreds Of Stores
Dave's started in 2017 as a parking-lot pop-up in East Hollywood and has since scaled rapidly through franchising. QSR Magazine marked the chain's 300th location milestone in 2025. The brand has drawn celebrity investors and gained wider industry attention after being acquired by private-equity owner Roark Capital in 2025, a deal noted by AP News and other major outlets.
What This Means For Somers Point
For locals and shore visitors, another national quick-casual tenant means more choices for takeout and a likely bump in lunchtime and dinner traffic during the busy season. The Ocean Heights Plaza location sits in Somers Point's commercial core and is part of a broader cluster of incoming restaurants and retail, so city planners and nearby businesses will be watching how parking and pick-up patterns evolve once doors open. Neighborhood readers who want to track construction or hiring can keep an eye on local development updates and the landlord's center page, as noted by coverage from 42Freeway.
Timing and Next Steps
Neither the restaurant nor the landlord has published an official opening date for the Somers Point unit. The site plan lists the tenant, but a public ribbon-cutting has not been announced. Local diners waiting to test their Reaper tolerance will have to stay patient. Watch for a formal launch notice from Dave's or Brixmor for word of a soft-open or grand-opening date. In the meantime, Dave's national location finder is the fastest way to see new-store postings on the Dave's Hot Chicken website.
