Founderology Growth Summit
How Dave’s Hot Chicken went from a parking lot to a $1 billion sale
Dave's Hot Chicken began in a parking lot. It recently sold for $1 billion. The leaders behind the brand will speak at the Founderology Growth Summit on Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. in Austin, Texas.
January 13, 2026 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Dave's Hot Chicken has a unique story. In 2017, Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy Rubenyan pooled their last dollars and started selling Nashville-style hot chicken out of a parking lot in East Hollywood. No investors. No restaurant experience. No safety net. Just a bold idea and the audacity to go for it.
Eight years later, Dave's Hot Chicken sold to Roark Capital for $1 billion, with the founders still at the helm.
Dave's Hot Chicken's founders and Jim Bitticks, president and CEO, will speak on the brand's trials and tribulations — as well as its successes — at the Founderology Growth Summit Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. in a general session titled "How to Build a Billion Dollar Brand: Dave's Hot Chicken Founders' Journey."
We asked Bitticks a couple of questions in an email interview about the sale to Roark Capital and the longevity of the Nashville Hot Chicken craze.
Q: Selling a majority stake to Roark Capital for $1 billion while remaining at the helm is a strategic masterstroke. Why was Roark Capital the right partner for the next stage of global growth, and what is the three-to-five-year vision you are now focused on achieving under this partnership?
Bitticks: Partnering with Roark Capital was a very deliberate decision rooted in long-term thinking, not just valuation.
Roark was the right partner because they fundamentally understand brand-led, experience-driven businesses and how to scale them globally without breaking what makes them special. Their track record shows patience, integrity, operational rigor and deep respect for founder-led cultures. Just as important, they were aligned from day one on keeping the management team intact so that our brand DNA remains protected. This wasn't about exiting - it was about taking the brand to the next level, setting us up for robust international growth, and rewarding the team for the hard work they did to grow Dave's to the current level
From a practical standpoint, Roark brings world-class capabilities in areas that matter most at our next stage of growth: international expansion, disciplined unit economics, supply chain sophistication and institutional infrastructure. They've seen what works — and what doesn't — across global platforms, and that pattern recognition is invaluable as we grow faster and broader.
Looking ahead three to five years, the vision is clear:
- Global scale with local relevance: We're focused on expanding internationally in a thoughtful way — prioritizing markets where our brand resonates, adapting locally and building durable regional leadership teams ... all through franchising with outstanding operators.
- Building a category-defining global platform: This isn't just about more locations or more revenue; it's about becoming the clear global leader in our space, with consistent quality, brand experience and operational excellence everywhere we operate.
- Long-term brand value creation: Every decision is still filtered through the same lens: does this strengthen the brand 10 years from now? Roark shares that mindset, which is why the partnership works.
In short, Roark gives us the capital, capabilities, and confidence to think bigger and move faster while allowing us to stay true to who we are. That combination is rare, and it's exactly what makes this next chapter so exciting.
Q: Nashville Hot Chicken is a specific, trend-driven category. What steps are you taking today to future-proof the Dave's Hot Chicken brand? Are you considering menu diversification, technology integration or other innovations to ensure the brand remains relevant and maintains its growth momentum in a constantly shifting market?
Bitticks: It's something we think about constantly. While Nashville Hot Chicken may have started as a trend, our view is that the format was the entry point, not the ceiling.
The way we future-proof the brand starts with a simple principle: we're building a brand, not just a menu item.
First, we've been very intentional about brand durability. From day one, the focus has been on food quality, service and culture. When people connect emotionally with a brand, relevance lasts far longer than any single trend.
Second, we think about menu evolution, not menu sprawl. We're disciplined about protecting what people love, but we're absolutely testing smart adjacencies that fit the brand — whether that's limited-time offerings, new formats or incremental menu extensions that expand occasions without diluting our identity. The goal isn't to become everything to everyone; it's to give guests more reasons to come back.
Third, technology is a major lever for scale and relevance. We're investing in digital ordering, data, loyalty and operational tech that improves both guest experience and unit economics. That allows us to personalize marketing, increase frequency and make smarter decisions as we grow globally, while also staying culturally connected to younger consumers.
Fourth, we're future proofing through operational excellence and infrastructure. That's where our partnership with Roark Capital is especially powerful. Their experience scaling iconic, founder-led brands globally helps ensure we can grow fast and responsibly, without losing quality or consistency.
Finally, we're playing the long game on relevance. We stay close to our guests. We respond to all guest comments, and we listen carefully to guest, franchisee and team feedback. That feedback loop informs everything from marketing to innovation to how the brand shows up culturally.
Nashville Hot Chicken may be the foundation, but the future is about building a category-defining, global brand that evolves with consumers, leverages technology intelligently and stays culturally sharp. That's how we ensure momentum not just for the next few years, but for the next few decades.
To register for the Founderology Growth Summit, CLICK HERE for more information.
About Mandy Wolf Detwiler
Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.
An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living.
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