Dave’s Hot Chicken continues their expansion plan in San Diego with a fourth location coming to Escondido. According to Retail Insite which handled the lease, the new Dave’s will move in to the spot formerly occupied by Sushiya at Escondido Promenade.
Specializing in Nashville Hot Chicken, the restaurant has grown from humble beginnings in East Hollywood to a nationwide franchise with new locations coming to Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, and more.
Dave’s Director of Operations, Deryl Pangelinan, tells What Now San Diego they’re doubling down in 2022. After opening three San Diego locations in two years, they’re shooting for three new Dave’s Hot Chicken spots by the end of 2022.
“Our goal was to capture Central San Diego to start. Now the availability of real estate is opening up options to expand in North County. Our intention is to bring 12 locations to the county,” explains Pangelinan.
Dave’s serves a straight-forward menu of spicy breaded chicken tenders and slider sandwiches with fries. They provide a wide range of heat for their chicken, from “No Spice” to “Reaper.”
Their locations are bright and fun, with local artists keeping their spots unique with custom murals. Their corporate team hires on graffiti artists and muralists who tell a story through their art, often taking themes from neighborhoods to localize the in-store artwork. For example, their Mira Mesa location is themed out with Top Gun imagery and inspiration taken from Miramar Air Field. The El Cajon location features the Dave’s logo in graffiti art with the San Diego skyline.
The fryers are expected to kick on in Escondido by Summer 2022. For now, get your chicken fix at Dave’s Hot Chicken locations open in El Cajon, Mira Mesa, and Pacific Beach. Follow along with Dave’s on Instagram as more locations are announced.
