Searingly spicy chicken brand will open its first Raleigh location

Update: Here’s the latest about Dave’s Hot Chicken opening in Raleigh.

Chicken comes and chicken goes.

A national name in fried chicken will take over the original location of BB’s Crispy Chicken in Raleigh.

The searingly spicy brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening a new location in the former BB’s space in the Midtown East shopping center. BB’s closed in early 2024 in that location and in Durham’s University Place development.

BB’s was best known as star local chef Ashley Christensen’s fast-casual concept with MDO Holdings. That partnership ended in 2023. BB’s was a promising homegrown addition to the escalating chicken sandwich wars of the last decade, with one location still remaining in Cary.

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Dave’s Hot Chicken filed permits to add a new restaurant in the 2920 Sherman Oak Pl location. This would be the third Dave’s in the Triangle, and the first in Raleigh, following suburban locations in Wake Forest and Holly Springs. There are also locations in Charlotte, Greensboro and Wilmington.

The Raleigh franchisee for Dave’s Hot Chicken are married couple Russell and Loreen Hansen.

Local VP of operations Larry Holcomb said the new Dave’s location could open within the month, with Friday, Aug. 22 as a target date.

This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 10:07 AM with the headline "Searingly spicy chicken brand will open its first Raleigh location."