Dave's Hot Chicken, the fast-growing Nashville-style chain, is zeroing in on Marlborough's Boston Post Road retail strip. The brand has signed on for Wayside Crossing and is slated to take over a freestanding quick-service space in a plaza already packed with national names. When the doors finally open, locals can expect Dave's signature tenders, sliders, fries and milkshakes to join the Boston Post Road traffic mix.
Lease and location
The Wayside Crossing listing from Aubuchon Realty now includes Dave's Hot Chicken among the center's tenants and notes that the chain "will be moving into the Starbucks space" at the plaza on Boston Post Road, which the company identifies as 661 Boston Post Road, according to Aubuchon Realty. The center is described as shadow-anchored by Target and Home Depot and already home to Chipotle and other quick-service spots. A company post put the new unit at roughly 2,250 square feet, according to LinkedIn.
What they'll serve
Dave's menu leans heavily on jumbo fried tenders and sliders, offered in seven heat levels, from No Spice up to the waiver-requiring Reaper, with tenders typically served over sliced white bread and pickles, per Dave's Hot Chicken. Usual sides include seasoned fries, mac and cheese and milkshakes, and the chain's chipotle-style Dave's Sauce is a frequent add-on. The concept started as an East Hollywood stand in 2017 and has since spread across New England; nearby stores are already listed in Framingham and Worcester, per the chain's Dave's Hot Chicken locations page.
Jobs and local impact
Hiring notices and job platforms are showing openings tied to the upcoming Marlborough restaurant, signaling that the arrival will bring both hourly and management roles to town, with multiple Dave's positions posted for the area. The planned opening in the busy Boston Post Road corridor was first detailed by Community Advocate. Locals who remember past fried-chicken debuts know the drill: Marlborough has previously seen long lines and traffic headaches when new quick-serve chicken spots opened, a pattern that has drawn scrutiny from officials and shoppers alike, as reported by Patch.
No firm grand-opening date has been announced. Aubuchon Realty's property listing indicates Dave's will move into the former Starbucks space in 2026, and both the landlord and the brand typically confirm opening dates and hiring through local signage and official announcements. Details on a ribbon-cutting or opening day are still to come, and neighbors can watch for hiring events and posted notices in the coming weeks, per Aubuchon Realty and the brand's announcements.
