Los Angeles-basedDave’s Hot Chicken has locked in a seven-unit franchise agreement with Deryl Pangelinan, Sean Varvello, Andrew Feghali and Lawrence Kourie to open in Arkansas and Springfield, Missouri. The group is known for being the first to franchise Dave’s Hot Chicken in 2020.
“Our journey with Dave’s Hot Chicken has been incredible, from being the first to expand the brand in San Diego, then into multiple states, now including Arkansas and Missouri,” Varvello said in a company press release. “What makes Dave’s so special is the bold and fiery menu and the sense of community we build around each location. We’ve seen how our guests across the country embrace Dave’s unique dining experience, and we can’t wait to bring that same energy to the Midwest.”
With a shared vision for bringing Dave’s Hot Chicken to new markets, the original franchisees secured a 12-unit development deal across San Diego County in 2020. Building on this momentum, they expanded their portfolio to include locations in Georgia, Nevada, Southern Arizona and New Mexico. The opening of the brand’s first location in Georgia was further amplified by A-list investor Usher, who signed a multi-unit development deal in Atlanta alongside Feghali and Kourie. The group has since signed multi-unit development deals across Alabama, Florida and Virginia.
“We couldn’t be more excited to see Deryl, Sean, Andrew and Lawrence lead the charge to build out locations in Arkansas and Springfield,” Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken said in the release. “They’ve consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and operational expertise, helping the growth of the brand in key markets across the country. By acquiring the market and spearheading this new development, they are key players in extending Dave’s Hot Chicken’s footprint in a way that aligns with our long-term growth strategy.”
