May 15, 2026 // Franchising.com // WICHITA — Dave’s Hot Chicken is turning up the heat in Wichita and Manhattan, Kansas. The new locations located on the East Side of Wichita in the Greenwich Place shopping center, with an anticipated opening in August 2026. Additional restaurants are planned in Manhattan, Lawrence, Topeka, and West Wichita, Kansas, with openings expected throughout 2026.
The fast-casual concept, which originated in Los Angeles, is bringing its Nashville-style hot chicken to the category’s founding market, while continuing to expand its presence across Kansas. As the brand enters Wichita, it aims to honor the roots of hot chicken while introducing its own take on bold flavor and fast-casual execution.
Longtime Dave’s Hot Chicken operators and brothers Jason and John Hotchkiss, alongside their brother-in-law, Paul Gorman, are leading the expansion of the group’s portfolio. The multi-generational group also includes Paul’s son, Pierce Gorman, and his wife, Hannah, who will support the new venture and oversee the entire operations of the new restaurants…