Dave’s Hot Chicken: Arman Oganesyan

In this episode of How I Built This, Arman Oganessian recounts the journey of Dave's Hot Chicken from a simple pop-up shop in a Hollywood parking lot to an international franchise. Launched in 2017 by Arman and his friends, the idea emerged after they experienced long wait times for Nashville hot chicken, prompting them to create their own version with a focus on efficiency and quality. They quickly garnered media attention that boosted their initial sales, leading to overwhelming demand.

The pop-up’s success prompted the team to open their first brick-and-mortar store in early 2018, backed by a mix of luck and strategic partnerships, including securing celebrity investors. Despite facing challenges in operational efficiency, the company's commitment to quality helped them maintain rapid growth. Dave's Hot Chicken now boasts around 200 locations, with ambitious plans to expand further internationally, focusing on maintaining strong brand identity and quality. Arman emphasizes the importance of a good product above all else, suggesting that while luck played a role, hard work and skill were crucial to their success.