Dave’s Hot Chicken is planning to bring its Nashville-style heat to Bell County. According to public filings, the project calls for a 2,598-square-foot tenant finish-out of a standalone building at 2801 E Central Expressway.
What Now Dallas reached out to franchisee Brian Cassidy, partner of CW Restaurant Group, to inquire about an opening timeline but did not receive a response prior to publication. Permitting records indicate that construction is slated to wrap by June 2027. However, dates listed in public filings are not always definitive.
The menu centers on Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders served at customizable spice levels, ranging from “No Spice” to the notorious “Reaper,” which requires customers to sign a waiver before ordering. Sides include fries, mac and cheese, and kale slaw, along with newer additions like Dave’s Hot Mozz.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has been one of What Now’s most closely tracked expansion stories nationwide, with dedicated coverage across multiple markets, including Chula Vista’s Plaza 655, Helotes near San Antonio, New Braunfels, Peabody’s Northshore Mall in Boston, and Pinellas Park in Tampa.
The new restaurant would give Central Texas residents a closer option than driving to Austin or Waco, adding to the Central Texas Expressway corridor, one of Killeen’s busiest commercial strips for retail and dining as the city continues to see national chains move in alongside its growing population tied to nearby Fort Cavazos.
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