A franchisee has applied for a special permit to open the first Dave’s Hot Chicken in Connecticut at 3384 Berlin Turnpike in Newington.
The Los Angeles-based fast casual hot chicken brand announced in 2022 that it planned to open eight restaurants in the New Haven and Fairfield areas. The other locations have not been disclosed.
John Coughlin, who has owned and operated Dunkin’ Donuts franchises, is seeking a special permit to operate the restaurant. The proposed eatery is in a 2,700-square-foot building, which previously housed a Batteries Plus store.
The building is attached to a Town Fair Tire.
A public hearing is set for the Planning and Zoning Commission’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 28.
Plans for the restaurant show interior seating for 49 people and 22 parking spaces.
Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 and opened its first brick-and-mortar location in East Hollywood, California.
The menu features chicken tenders and sliders, along with side dishes including kale slaw and crispy fries. Customers can choose from a spectrum of spice levels, from “no spice” to “reaper.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken has about 200 locations in the U.S., Canada, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Celebrity investors in the company include musician Drake, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, Red Sox owner Tom Werner, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and Good Morning America anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan.