A fast-growing Nashville hot chicken concept that began as a pandemic-era food truck is seeking bankruptcy protection after only a few years in operation. What began as a food truck in New York quickly expanded to standalone restaurants, but unfortunately the growth couldn’t be sustained financially.
Rapid growth after pandemic launch
Hen House Nashville Hot Chicken was launched in 2021 by founder Sal Andolina in Buffalo, New York. The concept began as a bright red food truck serving Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches and tenders during the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly building a following among local diners.
The popularity of the truck helped the brand expand quickly. Later in 2021, the business opened its first brick-and-mortar location in a kitchen at Dome Stadium in Tonawanda, New York. The company continued growing and eventually opened a standalone restaurant on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo in December 2024.
Hen House built its menu around the increasingly popular Nashville hot chicken trend, offering items such as chicken sandwiches, tenders, loaded fries, mac and cheese, and other comfort-food sides.
Bankruptcy filing
Despite the concept’s early momentum, Hen House Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 1, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York in Buffalo…