Sophie Bennett
Drake, the Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, is a major investor in Dave's Hot Chicken, a fast-growing restaurant chain based in Los Angeles. Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, Chef Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan, who started the business as a pop-up in an East Hollywood parking lot. The restaurant specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, with a cult following that has driven the company's rapid expansion. Drake's involvement as a significant stakeholder has further boosted the brand's popularity, with his team first connecting with the founders when Dave's Hot Chicken catered a party for the rapper.
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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 in July 2021 when Dave's Hot Chicken catered a party for him to celebrate receiving Billboard's Artist of the Decade award. Drake's team connected with the partners of Dave's Hot Chicken, and the rest is history.
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. The four founders grew up together in East Hollywood and were high school dropouts. They started the business with $900, purchasing a fryer and picnic tables, and setting up a pop-up restaurant in a parking lot. Their Nashville-style chicken gained an immediate cult following, and the company soon moved into a brick-and-mortar location.
Dave's Hot Chicken has experienced phenomenal growth, with over 700 locations in the development pipeline across the US, Canada, the Middle East, and Dubai. The brand has a significant presence on social media, with more than 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 significant, although the exact details of his stake in the business have not been disclosed. His participation as a major investor is expected to further boost the brand's reputation and growth. In addition to Drake, other celebrity investors in Dave's Hot Chicken include actor Samuel L. Jackson, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, and retired NFL player Michael Strahan.
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Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 by four friends
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in May 2017 by four friends—Arman Oganesyan, Dave Kopushyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. With a portable fryer, a heat lamp, some tables, and a $900 investment, the four friends started a pop-up restaurant in a parking lot in East Hollywood, Los Angeles. Dave Kopushyan, a professional chef, developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe. The restaurant's first menu was simple, with only one item: a hot chicken combo plate.
The restaurant gained popularity after a reporter from Eater Los Angeles visited and wrote about it. By late 2018, the stand was closed, and the team opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in a nearby strip mall on Western Avenue. The founders' vision, leadership, and commitment to the brand, along with the growing demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles, contributed to the company's rapid growth.
In 2021, Drake, the massively popular rapper and entertainer, became a significant investor in Dave's Hot Chicken, further boosting the brand's popularity. Other notable investors include actor Samuel L. Jackson, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, and Good Morning America anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan.
As of 2023, Dave's Hot Chicken has expanded to more than 700 locations worldwide, including major cities in the US, Canada, Dubai, and Toronto. The brand has a strong presence on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, contributing to its success and cult following.
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The restaurant chain has over 700 locations
Drake, the Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, is a major investor in Dave's Hot Chicken. The restaurant chain has experienced phenomenal growth, with over 700 locations in the development pipeline. Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. The four founders were children of Armenian immigrants and high school dropouts. They started the business with \$900 as a pop-up in a parking lot in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, with a portable fryer and picnic tables from their backyards. Their Nashville-style chicken gained an immediate cult following, with people driving across state lines to taste the food. The company's social media presence also helped generate millions of views and a cadre of celebrity investors, including Drake.
Dave's Hot Chicken has become a $620 million business with over 300 global locations. The company has sold the rights to more than 700 franchise locations in the US, Middle East, and Canada, with plans to open 70-plus locations in 2023. The brand has restaurants in major US cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Detroit, Portland, and Milwaukee. Additionally, Dave's Hot Chicken has expanded internationally, with locations in Dubai and Canada. The restaurant chain offers jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders, with seven spice levels ranging from no spice to Reaper, the hottest level, which requires a signed waiver.
Drake's investment in Dave's Hot Chicken is a result of his team's connection with the founders during a party they catered in July 2021 to celebrate his Billboard Artist of the Decade award. Drake's participation as a stakeholder has further boosted the brand's popularity. The restaurant chain's rapid expansion and success are attributed to the founders' vision, strong leadership, and the commitment of experienced franchisees.
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Drake's team wanted Dave's Hot Chicken to cater a party
Drake, the Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, is a major investor in Dave's Hot Chicken. Drake's team first connected with the founders of Dave's Hot Chicken when they wanted the restaurant to cater a party celebrating Drake's Billboard Artist of the Decade award. The founders of Dave's Hot Chicken, Arman Oganesyan, Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan, started the business as a pop-up in a parking lot in East Hollywood in 2017. Their Nashville-style chicken gained a cult following, and they soon opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in East Hollywood.
The partnership with Drake began in 2021, and he now holds a significant stake in the business. Dave's Hot Chicken has experienced phenomenal growth, with over 700 locations in the development pipeline across the US, Canada, the Middle East, and Dubai. The brand has a massive social media presence, with over 200 million organic views on TikTok and the highest number of Instagram followers per restaurant of any national Fast Casual brand.
The company has sold the rights to more than 700 franchise locations and will open 70+ locations in 2023. Dave's Hot Chicken has been named America's Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chain, with system-wide sales increasing by 156% in the past year. The partnership with Drake has undoubtedly contributed to this success, with his endorsement attracting even more attention to the brand.
In addition to Drake, other celebrity 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. The brand has a unique origin story, a dedicated fan base, and a successful franchise model, all of which have contributed to its rapid expansion.
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Drake is a Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter
Drake, the Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter, has been a major investor in Dave's Hot Chicken since 2021. The restaurant chain, which was founded in 2017, has experienced phenomenal growth, with over 700 locations in the development pipeline across the US, Canada, the Middle East, and elsewhere. Drake's involvement in the business is significant, with co-founder Arman Oganesyan describing his interest as a partnership.
Drake's investment in Dave's Hot Chicken is a natural extension of his career as a musician and entrepreneur. As a rapper and singer, he has achieved massive popularity and success, with his music achieving widespread critical and commercial acclaim. He has also established himself as a savvy businessman, with investments in various ventures, including the Los Angeles-based restaurant chain, Dave's Hot Chicken.
Dave's Hot Chicken was started by four friends, Arman Oganesyan, Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan, with just \$900 and a portable fryer in a parking lot in East Hollywood. The founders' vision, leadership, and commitment to the brand have fueled its rapid expansion. The restaurant specializes in jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders, with a proprietary recipe that offers seven spice levels, ranging from mild to extremely hot ("Reaper"), which requires a signed waiver.
Drake's investment in Dave's Hot Chicken is a testament to the brand's potential and the power of celebrity endorsements. His involvement has likely contributed to the restaurant chain's growth and popularity, bringing his fans and customers together in a unique collaboration. As a Canadian native, Drake's investment in a restaurant with locations in Canada and a global presence showcases his support for businesses with a diverse reach.
In addition to his musical career, Drake has proven his business acumen through strategic investments like Dave's Hot Chicken. His involvement in the restaurant chain demonstrates his interest in diverse ventures and his ability to identify promising opportunities. Drake's investment has likely contributed to the brand's success and expansion, bringing his influence and appeal to the table.
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Frequently asked questions
Drake is a major investor in Dave's Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based restaurant chain.
Drake's team wanted Dave's Hot Chicken to cater a party in July to celebrate receiving Billboard's Artist of the Decade award. The partnership developed from there.
Dave's Hot Chicken specializes in jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders, along with sides like kale slaw, mac 'n' cheese, and seasoned French fries. The chicken is offered at seven spice levels, from "No Spice" to "Reaper", which requires a signed waiver.
