From Parking Lot to Billion-Dollar Empire: The Spicy Chicken That Took Over the World!
Imagine four high schoolers, as broke as can be, dropping out and starting to sell chicken from a parking lot. No, this isn’t the start of a fairy tale, but the real story of Daves Hot Chicken – a brand that exploded to a billion-dollar valuation!
How It All Began
Arman Oganesjan, Dave Kopušjan, brothers Tomi and Geri Rubenjan – children of Armenian immigrants from East Hollywood, started with an improvised restaurant on a parking lot. Kopušjan, a former vegetarian and chef in elite restaurants, created a Nashville-style chicken recipe coated in cayenne pepper, with six levels of heat! The hottest, The Reaper, requires signing a waiver.
From TikTok to a Billion
The brand blew up thanks to social media – TikTok was their secret weapon with millions of weekly views. Famous faces like rapper Drake invested, and investment giant Roark Capital bought 70% of the company for a staggering billion dollars.
From Poverty to Millions
Each founder owned about 10% before the sale and is now richer by roughly $80 million pre-tax. Once barely able to scrape together money for their first kiosk, they now fly private jets and plan global expansion.
Rapid Growth and Risks
Daves opened 80 restaurants last year and plans to open as many this year. While some fear too rapid growth and a popularity crash, management insists they know what they’re doing. The average restaurant makes about $3 million annually with an EBITDA margin of 18-20%.
What’s Next?
Roark Capital plans to open over 1,000 franchise locations across the US, UK, Middle East, and Canada in the next five years. The founders remain with the company and promise quality won’t drop.
The Bottom Line
This story proves you can build an empire from nothing, but success needs the right mix – a great product, social media, famous investors, and bold expansion. If you thought chicken was just food, think again – Daves Hot Chicken proves heat can bring in a BILLION!
So, what do you think? Would you sign a waiver for the hottest sandwich? Or is this just another fad? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s the real foodie and who just likes to brag about handling the heat!
