A celebrity-backed hot chicken chain sets its sights on Columbia. Check out the details

A California-based restaurant chain that specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken is set to break into the South Carolina market, including in the Columbia area.

Dave’s Hot Chicken, a fast-casual chain based in Los Angeles that has past investors including rapper Drake, actor Samuel L. Jackson and former California First Lady Maria Shriver, said in a news release that it is planning South Carolina locations in the Columbia, Charleston, Greenville and Myrtle Beach areas.

The company has reached a franchising agreement with Kal Gullapalli for the Palmetto State Dave’s locations.

Gullapalli has owned a number of Marco’s Pizza restaurants in South Carolina.

“I’m thrilled to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken to South Carolina,” Gullapalli said in the release. “Nashville hot chicken is already delicious as it is, but Dave’s takes it to another level not found anywhere else in the category, and I think it will be a hit in the area. Not only is the food fantastic, but the leadership backing the brand is impeccable, and these appealing factors have set me up well for successful operations.”

Exact locations for Dave’s Hot Chicken in South Carolina are still being sought, and the restaurant’s team is seeking “2,000 to 2,700 square feet endcaps and freestanding locations, with or without drive-thru capacity,” according to a release.

Dave’s Hot Chicken was started as a parking lot pop-up in 2017 and has quickly grown, with restaurants across the nation. There are more than 60 locations in North America, with another 700 units committed since franchising opportunities revved up in 2019.

The release said Dave’s offers “hot chicken tenders and sliders, with spice levels ranging from ‘No Spice’ to ‘Reaper,’” as well as sides including house-made kale slaw, creamy mac and cheese, and crispy fries or cheese fries.

Dave’s Hot Chicken vice president of franchise development Shannon Swenson said Gullapalli is the right fit to bring Dave’s to the Palmetto State.

“Every time we make our entrance into a new state, we have to be conscious that we’re partnering with the right operator to make a great first impression,” Swenson said in the release. “Kal is the perfect example of the operator we want to be first-to-market with. I’m excited for him to bring our one-of-a-kind chicken concept to South Carolina and create legions of new Dave’s Hot Chicken fans.”