Angry Chickz Expanding to Fremont
Nashville-style hot chicken chain Angry Chickz is set to open a new location in Fremont. The restaurant is known for its chicken with heat levels ranging from mild to the extremely spicy "Angry" option, though a specific opening date has not yet been announced.
The brand's journey began when founder David Mkhitaryan, a veteran of his family's restaurant business, first tasted Nashville hot chicken in 2017. A year later, he and his wife, with a help from a friend, opened the first Angry Chickz in a 900-square-foot East Hollywood storefront with a simple goal: to serve the best hot chicken with excellent customer service. Angry Chickz has seen rapid growth, expanding from its first location in 2018 to 28 locations by the end of 2024. The company's sales hit $55.6 million in 2024, a 58.7% increase year-over-year, with average unit volumes of $2.1 million. Projections show the chain expecting to operate more than 50 locations by the end of 2026. This expansion is fueled by a recent investment from Saratoga Investment Corp., which is providing the capital for a national push. The growth strategy has largely focused on suburban areas after an opening in Bakersfield, California, drew unexpectedly large crowds, revealing a lucrative market outside of major metropolitan centers. The Nashville hot chicken phenomenon itself has a storied past, originating in the 1930s with Thornton Prince. As the legend goes, his girlfriend, seeking revenge for his infidelity, served him an extra-spicy fried chicken breakfast. However, Prince loved the fiery dish and soon opened his own restaurant, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, in Nashville. For decades, hot chicken remained a local specialty within Nashville's Black community. Its popularity began to surge in the early 2000s, spurred by events like the Music City Hot Chicken Festival, which started in 2007. Major fast-food chains like KFC adding it to their menus in the mid-2010s helped launch the flavor profile into the national spotlight. Angry Chickz stands out in a competitive market with a focused menu and a waiver required for its hottest "Angry" level, which is dusted with Carolina Reaper pepper. The brand has gained significant traction, being named a "2024 Hot New Concept" by Nation's Restaurant News and one of QSR magazine's "Ones to Watch."
