Grammy Award-Winning Singer Teams with Musician Drake, Other Investors
Dave’s Hot Chicken has announced that eight-time Grammy Award-winning singer Usher now owns a slice of the rapidly expanding Nashville-style spicy chicken franchise. His Dave’s Hot Chicken franchises will be located across Atlanta. Usher is partnering with existing franchisees Andrew Feghali and Lawrence Kouri of the most-senior Dave’s Hot Chicken ownership group, according a report from Nation’s Restaurant News.
The singer is tapping into a growing industry and within it a growing brand. The International Franchise Association, in its 2024 Franchise Economic Outlook Report, noted that fast-food restaurants (second only to personal-services brands) are expected to grow rapidly in 2024. Quick-service restaurants will grow by 2.2% to more than 199,000 units, based on the IFA report compiled by franchise research organization FRANdata.
Founded in 2017, the Dave’s Hot Chicken chain supports that forecast. The brand currently has 200 locations, with another 700 restaurants under development, Atlanta-area television station WSB reported.
Usher Joins Drake at Dave’s
Usher, a rhythm-and-blues/pop singer-songwriter who’s fresh off rave reviews for his halftime appearance at the 2024 Super Bowl, previously shared his experience at Dave’s Hot Chicken on Instagram. Drake, Billboard’s Artist of the Decade, is another celebrity investor in the expanding fast-casual restaurant franchise. He has given away free chicken slider sandwiches at the restaurants on his birthday for the last two years (mark your calendars for Oct. 24, USA Today suggested).
In a statement announcing his investment, Usher said, “Dave’s Hot Chicken is some of the best hot chicken I’ve ever had. I’m excited to be involved with the brand and bring Dave’s delicious tenders and sliders to people across Atlanta.” WSB said Usher has invested in a total of nine Dave’s Hot Chicken franchises.
Dave’s Hot Chicken Menu
Dave’s Hot Chicken features hot chicken sliders and chicken tenders – with the chicken available in seven heat levels – along with side dishes such as kale slaw, french fries, cheese fries, and macaroni and cheese. The brand also has put cauliflower-based Dave’s NOT Chicken on its menu.
As a counterpoint to its savory food offerings, Dave’s Hot Chicken franchises also serve chocolate, strawberry and vanilla milkshakes, plus assorted fountain beverages..
About the Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise
The restaurant brand is based in Los Angeles, and has attracted other high-profile investors besides Drake and Usher. Among them are journalist Maria Shriver, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and television personality and former NFL great Michael Strahan, USA Today reported.
Celebrities often take financial stakes in franchises. Other well-known franchise investors are two of the NFL’s former star quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, former National Basketball Association star Shaquille O’Neal, actor Mark Wahlberg, and rapper-songwriter Kanye West.
