Dave’s Hot Chicken Heats Up Grafton with New Location Opening October 17
GRAFTON, Wis. — The wait is almost over for local fans of bold flavor and crispy spice. Dave’s Hot Chicken, the cult-favorite Nashville-style hot chicken brand, will open its newest Wisconsin restaurant in Grafton on Friday, October 17, marking the 11th location in the state.
The new restaurant, located at 1210 N. Port Washington Rd., will serve Dave’s signature jumbo tenders and sliders, seasoned to order in seven spice levels ranging from No Spice to Reaper — so hot you need to sign a waiver before you eat it. Guests can also enjoy classic sides like mac and cheese, crispy fries, and kale slaw, plus sweet treats like Frozen Slushers and Top-Loaded Shakes.
Each Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurant features its own unique, graffiti-style murals designed by artists from the LA-based artists Splatter Haus and DEHMQ. The Grafton location continues that tradition, with bold, eye-catching artwork that captures the high-energy attitude and rebellious spirit that define Dave’s Hot Chicken.
To celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 guests in line will each receive a Dave’s Hot Chicken gift card and be entered into a drawing to win free Dave’s Hot Chicken for a year. The celebration will also feature giveaways, music, and plenty of hot chicken served with a side of fun.
The Grafton location will be operated by MR Chicken, the local franchise group that owns and operates all Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants in Wisconsin. MR Chicken is backed by the same local team as Roaring Fork Restaurant Group, a Milwaukee-based hospitality company that also operates more than 60 QDOBA Mexican Eats locations across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.
“We’ve seen incredible excitement for Dave’s Hot Chicken across Wisconsin, and we’re thrilled to bring that same energy to Grafton,” said Ron Stokes, Co-Owner of MR Chicken and President of Roaring Fork Restaurant Group. “This community has been incredibly welcoming, and we look forward to becoming a part of the local dining scene.”
In keeping with Roaring Fork’s community-first philosophy, the Grafton team has already participated in local school and athletic events in Grafton and Cedarburg and plans to build additional partnerships with area schools and organizations in the months ahead.
Guests at the grand opening can expect giveaways, music, and plenty of hot chicken served with a side of fun. The restaurant will be open for dine-in and takeout, and will soon offer delivery through major delivery apps.
About Dave’s Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken began as a parking lot pop-up in Los Angeles in 2017 and quickly gained a cult following for its craveable Nashville-style hot chicken. Today, the brand has grown to hundreds of locations across the world, backed by celebrity investors including Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan.
About MR Chicken and Roaring Fork Restaurant Group
MR Chicken is the Wisconsin-based franchise group that owns and operates all Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants in the state. It is affiliated with Roaring Fork Restaurant Group, a locally owned and operated franchisee of QDOBA Mexican Eats since 1998. Together, they operate over 70 restaurant locations across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.