Lucas Delgado
Drake, the Canadian rapper, has a lot to do with Dave's Hot Chicken. In 2021, the superstar became a significant investor in the Los Angeles-based restaurant chain, which was founded in 2017. Drake's interest in the company began when he hired Dave's Hot Chicken to cater his party to celebrate being named Billboard's Artist of the Decade. The company has since become America's fastest-growing restaurant chain, with over 700 locations worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drake's involvement with Dave's Hot Chicken | Investor and brand ambassador |
| Date of investment | 2021 |
| Drake's stake in the business | Significant; one of the largest individual investors |
| Other investors | Actor Samuel L. Jackson, Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, and Good Morning America anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan |
| Dave's Hot Chicken's origin story | Started as a parking lot pop-up restaurant in East Hollywood with a portable fryer and picnic tables |
| Founders | Arman Oganesyan, Chef Dave Kopushyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan |
| Year founded | 2017 |
| Menu | Fried chicken tenders and sliders, mac & cheese, kale slaw, and fries, with spice levels ranging from no spice to Reaper-level hot |
| Locations | Over 700 locations worldwide, including the US, Dubai, and Canada |
| Social media presence | Over 200 million organic views on TikTok and the highest Instagram followers per restaurant of any national Fast Casual brand |
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What You'll Learn
Drake is a major investor in Dave's Hot Chicken
Drake, the Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, is a major investor in Dave's Hot Chicken. Drake's interest in the company began when he wanted to serve Dave's Hot Chicken at a party he was hosting to celebrate being named Billboard's Artist of the Decade. The company was founded in 2017 by four friends—Arman Oganesyan, Chef Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan—who started out with a parking lot pop-up restaurant in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, serving chicken tenders and sliders with a proprietary hot chicken recipe.
Since then, Dave's Hot Chicken has grown into a successful restaurant chain with over 700 locations in the US, the Middle East, and Canada, and has been named America's Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chain. The company's CEO, Bill Phelps, has attributed this success to the founders' vision, strong leadership, and the commitment of experienced franchisees. Drake's investment in the company is significant, with co-founder Oganesyan describing it as a partnership and stating that Drake has a large stake in the business.
Drake's involvement with Dave's Hot Chicken extends beyond his financial investment. He has also promoted the brand on social media, sharing a photo of himself enjoying a Dave's combo on his Instagram story, which has over 92 million followers. This has helped to boost the brand's visibility and attract attention to the company.
In addition to Drake, other notable investors in Dave's Hot Chicken include actor Samuel L. Jackson, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, and Good Morning America anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan.
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Drake's team wanted Dave's Hot Chicken to cater his party
Drake has a significant stake in Dave's Hot Chicken, a fast-casual restaurant chain that originated in Los Angeles. The rapper was named Billboard's Artist of the Decade in 2019, and to celebrate this achievement, Drake's team wanted Dave's Hot Chicken to cater the party. This is how the partnership between Drake and Dave's Hot Chicken began.
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 by four friends: Arman Oganesyan, Chef Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. With just \$900, they started a pop-up restaurant in a parking lot in East Hollywood, serving Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders. The business quickly gained popularity, and nine months later, they opened their first brick-and-mortar location.
In 2019, the Dave's Hot Chicken team struck a deal with Bill Phelps, the co-founder of Blaze Pizza and former CEO of Wetzel's Pretzels, to begin franchising the concept. By 2023, the company had sold the rights to more than 700 franchise locations worldwide, with restaurants in major US cities, Dubai, and Canada. The brand has a massive following, with over 200 million organic views on TikTok and the highest number of Instagram followers per restaurant of any national fast-casual brand.
Drake's investment in Dave's Hot Chicken is a significant boost to the company's profile. As one of the largest individual investors, Drake has helped propel the brand even further into the spotlight. In May 2023, Drake shared a photo on his Instagram story (which has over 92 million followers) of himself enjoying a Dave's combo, with the caption, "I tried the food, and it was amazing. After meeting the founders and hearing their story, I jumped at the opportunity to invest."
Drake's involvement with Dave's Hot Chicken goes beyond just an investment. He has also endorsed the brand by serving their food at his party and posting about it on social media. This has created a mutually beneficial relationship, with Drake promoting the brand to his massive fan base and Dave's Hot Chicken gaining even more recognition and popularity.
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Dave's Hot Chicken is America's fastest-growing restaurant chain
In 2021, Canadian rapper and entertainer Drake recognised the potential of Dave's Hot Chicken and became a significant investor in the company. Drake's involvement, along with investments from other celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson and Tom Werner, has propelled the brand to new heights. The chain now has over 700 locations in the pipeline, with restaurants in major cities across the US, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, and Denver, as well as international locations in Dubai and Canada.
Dave's Hot Chicken specialises in jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders, offering seven spice levels to cater to different taste preferences. Their menu also includes sides such as kale slaw, mac n' cheese, and seasoned French fries. The brand has gained a massive online presence, with over 200 million organic views on TikTok and the highest Instagram followers per restaurant of any national fast-casual brand.
The company's success can be attributed to the founders' vision, strong leadership, and the dedication of experienced franchisees. Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave's Hot Chicken, attributes their "unheard-of growth rate" to these factors, solidifying their position as America's fastest-growing restaurant chain.
With their unique origin story, high-quality food, and strategic partnerships, Dave's Hot Chicken has become a force to be reckoned with in the restaurant industry. The collaboration between the founders and Drake, described as a partnership by Oganesyan, has brought cool experiences to Drake's fans and Dave's customers alike. This symbiotic relationship has undoubtedly contributed to the chain's unprecedented growth and popularity.
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Drake has a large stake in the business
Drake has a large stake in Dave's Hot Chicken, a fast-casual restaurant chain that specializes in jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders. The restaurant offers a range of spice levels, from no spice to Reaper, which requires a signed waiver due to its extreme heat.
Drake, a Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter, became a significant investor in Dave's Hot Chicken in 2021. While the exact size of his investment is not publicly disclosed, it has been described as "pretty significant" by the company's co-founder, Arman Oganesyan. Oganesyan also referred to Drake as "one of the largest individual investors" in the chain.
The partnership between Drake and Dave's Hot Chicken began when the restaurant catered to Drake's party celebrating his Billboard Artist of the Decade award in 2021. The founders of Dave's Hot Chicken connected with Drake's team during the event, and the relationship evolved from there.
Drake's involvement has likely contributed to the chain's rapid growth and expansion. As of 2023, Dave's Hot Chicken has more than 700 locations in the development pipeline, with restaurants in major cities across the US, Canada, Dubai, and the Middle East. The brand has also gained a significant online presence, with over 200 million organic views on TikTok and the highest Instagram followers per restaurant of any national fast-casual brand.
In addition to his investment, Drake has been a great ambassador for the brand, promoting the chain to his massive social media following. His endorsement has likely played a role in the company's success and cult following.
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Dave's Hot Chicken has over 200 million organic views on TikTok
Dave's Hot Chicken, a restaurant chain based in Pasadena, California, has gained immense popularity and a cult following, with people travelling across state lines to taste their food. The chain has achieved remarkable success, with over 200 million organic views on TikTok and 3 million followers on the platform. This impressive social media presence has played a pivotal role in the company's marketing strategy and expansion into new markets.
The restaurant's TikTok fame is closely linked to its delicious offerings, particularly its jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders. These mouth-watering dishes are available in seven spice levels, catering to a wide range of taste preferences. The lowest spice option is "No Spice," while the boldest option, "Reaper," requires a signed waiver, challenging only the bravest spice enthusiasts.
Dave's Hot Chicken has also attracted attention for its unique origin story. It began as a humble parking lot pop-up restaurant in East Hollywood, with the founders using a portable fryer and picnic tables from their backyards. This grassroots beginning, coupled with a proprietary hot chicken recipe, quickly gained traction, and in 2021, Drake took notice and became a significant investor.
Drake, a renowned rapper and entertainer, saw the potential in Dave's Hot Chicken and decided to invest in the company. His involvement provided a substantial boost to the brand's reputation and growth. With Drake on board, the restaurant chain expanded rapidly, opening over 700 locations across the United States, the Middle East, and Canada.
The partnership between Dave's Hot Chicken and Drake exemplifies the power of celebrity endorsements and investments. It demonstrates how a well-known figure can elevate a brand's profile and attract new customers. The collaboration has been described as a mutual desire to bring cool experiences to his fans and our customers, creating a win-win situation for both parties involved.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Drake is an investor in Dave's Hot Chicken.
Drake's team wanted Dave's Hot Chicken to cater his party to celebrate receiving Billboard's Artist of the Decade award. The founders met him, and he loved the brand.
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain specialising in fried chicken, including tenders and sliders, with sides such as mac & cheese, kale slaw, and fries.
Dave's Hot Chicken has more than 700 locations in the development pipeline, with restaurants currently open in major US cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, and Toronto. The brand also has locations in Dubai and Canada.
Drake is one of the largest individual investors in Dave's Hot Chicken, but the company has not disclosed the exact size of his investment.
