Dave's Hot Chicken is planning to bring its Nashville-style tenders and sliders to Killeen, setting its sights on a standalone building at 2801 E. Central Texas Expressway that has already churned through two other national chains in recent years. The project calls for a 2,598-square-foot tenant finish-out along one of the city's busiest commercial strips for retail and dining, with permitting records indicating construction is slated to wrap in June 2027.
As WhatNow first reported, the site is being developed by CW Restaurant Group in partnership with franchisee Brian Cassidy. WhatNow's report notes that public filing dates are not always definitive, and Cassidy did not respond to the outlet's inquiry about an opening timeline before publication. The Central Texas Expressway corridor has seen heavy commercial turnover, and this particular parcel is a case study in that churn: it previously housed a TGI Friday's that closed in spring 2023 and was demolished to make way for a new building for Guatemalan fast-food chain Pollo Campero, according to Killeen Daily Herald. Pollo Campero operated only briefly before permanently closing in April 2026.
A Growing City Draws National Chains
Killeen isn't hurting for population to feed a new fast-casual concept. The city's official estimated population reached 164,027 as of December 1, 2025, according to the City of Killeen, supported by a net addition of 1,307 dwelling units — including 778 single-family homes and 539 multifamily units — since January 2024. City officials released the updated figures specifically to push back on inaccurate reports suggesting the city's population was shrinking.
Much of that growth traces back to nearby Fort Hood, formerly known as Fort Cavazos, which generated an estimated $37.9 billion for the Texas state economy in 2025, according to KCEN-TV. The base directly supports 53,767 employees and more than 159,000 total direct and indirect jobs, a level of economic gravity that helps explain why national and international restaurant brands keep circling this stretch of Bell County. Per WhatNow's report, the new restaurant would give Central Texas residents a closer hot chicken option than driving to Austin or Waco.
Hot Chicken Already Has a Foothold in Killeen
Dave's Hot Chicken won't be introducing Killeen to the format. Houston-founded Urban Bird Hot Chicken opened its 24th location on West Central Texas Expressway on January 5, 2026, establishing a Nashville-style hot chicken presence in the city well before Dave's Hot Chicken's plans surfaced, according to Restaurant Magazine. Fast-casual hot chicken concepts have been expanding rapidly across Central Texas military and university towns in recent years.
Dave's Hot Chicken's menu centers on Nashville-style tenders and sliders with customizable spice levels ranging from no spice all the way up to Reaper, per WhatNow's reporting. Customers must sign a waiver before ordering the Reaper level. The menu also includes mac and cheese, kale slaw, fries, and Dave's Hot Mozz.
A Billion-Dollar Backer Behind the Brand
The chain arriving in Killeen carries serious financial firepower. Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital acquired a 75% majority stake in Dave's Hot Chicken in June 2025 in a deal valuing the chain at $1 billion, according to Forbes. Roark's portfolio also includes parent entities behind Inspire Brands, GoTo Foods, Subway, and Dunkin'.
The brand's growth has been dramatic by any fast-casual standard. Dave's Hot Chicken generated roughly $617 million in systemwide sales in 2024, a 57% year-over-year increase, while maintaining average unit sales exceeding $3.2 million per store, according to CenterCheck. By late 2025, the chain operated more than 360 locations across eight countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and the UAE, with franchise development agreements signed for over 1,200 additional units, per the Los Angeles Times.
The chain's origin story is a long way from its current billion-dollar valuation. Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in May 2017 with just $900 in an East Hollywood parking lot by four friends, including chef Dave Kopushyan, who trained under Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-starred French Laundry before developing the chain's hot chicken recipes. Celebrity minority investors have also fueled its rise, with rapper Drake, actor Samuel L. Jackson, TV personality Michael Strahan, and journalist Maria Shriver all holding stakes in the brand.
What Comes Next for the Killeen Site
Texas law requires commercial construction or renovation projects estimated above $50,000 to be registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for accessibility compliance, which is how the Killeen project details became public. Those filings record estimated timelines submitted by developers, not legally binding grand opening dates, so the June 2027 completion target could still shift as permitting and buildout progress. For now, Killeen diners looking to test their tolerance against the Reaper level will have to keep watching the Central Texas Expressway corridor for updates.
-4.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)
