The eastside to get its first taste of Dave’s Hot Chicken Credit: Dave's Hot Chicken

Ohio City will welcome one of its first national restaurant chains when Dave’s Hot Chicken opens its doors in spring of 2022. The fast-casual eatery will be taking a portion of the former W. 25th Street Furniture space at Chatham and W. 25th, according to commercial real estate broker Kevin Moss of CBRE.

The Los Angeles-based restaurant launched as a street-food concept in 2017. The streamlined menu of Nashville-style hot chicken drew many fans and before long the company secured investors and expanded throughout California, Toronto, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Texas. The Cleveland location is part of a big Midwest push for the brand. Columbus alone is expected to net 13 locations.

Diners can look forward to a concise menu of fried chicken tenders and tender sliders, offered in seven different spice levels that climb to the dreaded “reaper.” Those items are joined by sides like crinkle-cut fries, kale slaw and mac and cheese.

This article appears in Oct 20 – Nov 2, 2021.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.