A Nashville-style hot chicken chain backed by a billion-dollar private equity deal is heading to Tyler, taking over a former Whataburger building on one of the city's busiest commercial strips. Dave's Hot Chicken plans to open a location at 6849 S. Broadway Ave. next year, converting a freestanding building that once housed a Whataburger.
According to CBS19, that Whataburger closed after a new spot was built near The Village at Cumberland Park. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation reported that the South Broadway building will be renovated for Dave's Hot Chicken, with construction expected to begin in late November and wrap up by April 2027, per the same TDLR filing cited by the station. The building itself spans approximately 4,385 square feet, according to a listing from Douglas Elliman, which also notes the site sits on one of Tyler's most heavily traveled retail corridors.
From Parking Lot Pop-Up to Billion-Dollar Brand
Dave's Hot Chicken began in 2017 as what the chain itself describes as a parking-lot sensation among friends, per CBS19's reporting. That origin story has deeper roots: namesake co-founder Dave Kopushyan trained as a chef under Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-starred Napa Valley restaurant The French Laundry, according to Wikipedia. The brand's own account traces the launch to a Hollywood parking-lot pop-up started with three childhood friends and just $900.
The chain now operates more than 450 locations worldwide, the station reports. Behind that growth sits serious financial muscle — private equity firm Roark Capital acquired a majority stake in the company in June 2025, a deal that valued Dave's Hot Chicken at approximately $1 billion, according to Companies History. Roark acquired roughly 75% control while the founders and celebrity backers retained minority stakes, per the same account. System-wide revenue topped $600 million in 2024, representing 57% year-over-year sales growth with average unit volumes exceeding $3.2 million per location, the outlet notes.
Celebrity Investors and Industry Recognition
Rapper Drake became one of the company's largest individual investors in September 2021 after the founders met him at a party celebrating his recognition as Billboard's Artist of the Decade, according to Restaurant Business Magazine. He joined other celebrity backers including Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Strahan. The chain's rapid rise earned it official recognition in May 2023, when industry research firm Technomic named it America's Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chain after the company posted a 156% increase in total sales during 2022, per Dave's Hot Chicken's own press materials.
The Tyler menu is expected to include the chain's signature tenders, sliders, and mozzarella planks, per CBS19's reporting. For those who dare to order the spiciest Reaper-level chicken, the company requires customers to sign or accept a liability waiver acknowledging the extreme heat and potential physical discomfort from Carolina Reaper peppers — a policy that applies to both individual tenders and party catering boxes. Dave's Hot Chicken also sources Halal-certified chicken from Halal Transactions of Omaha for its U.S. supply chain, according to Dave's Hot Chicken Menu Prices, allowing franchises to serve customers following Islamic dietary rules, with non-meat sides like mac and cheese and kale slaw offering vegetarian-friendly options too.
Tyler Store Details
Specific details about the Tyler store's local franchise ownership group, seating capacity, and any drive-thru plans have not yet been reported.
