Dave’s Hot Chicken, the home of the Nashville hot chicken craze that swept the nation, finally has plans to open in the Des Moines metro. Bart Coon and his son, Kegan, announced plans to open five locations of the fast-casual chain in Iowa.
The first debuted in Iowa in Davenport last November with hot chicken tenders, sliders, and seven levels of heat. Now it's the Des Moines metro's turn.
The 2,093-square-foot restaurant takes over a former Pure Salon by Aveda space at 1805 S.E. Delaware Ave. in Ankeny, bookended by a Starbucks on one end of the strip mall and a US Cellular shop on the other. A sign with the brand's mascot, a stylized rubber chicken with "Dave's" written on the front, already hangs above the space announcing its debut. The site includes permanent tables outside the restaurant on a patio that splits the strip mall in two.
Bart Coon, a Utah-based investor, started his love of Iowa by opening three locations of Crumbl Cookies in Ames, Ankeny, and West Des Moines starting in 2022, with Kegan Coon, who helped open the three cookie outlets and now lives in central Iowa with his family.
"I was a fan first," Bart Coon said in April 2024 when he announced plans to open in Iowa. "Then I connected with them and got the franchise rights for Iowa."
What is Dave’s Hot Chicken?
The premise is simple. The fast-casual restaurant focuses on Nashville hot chicken. Customers can order tenders or sliders, and choose from sides such as French fries, cheese fries, mac and cheese, or kale slaw. Bart Coon said that Dave’s Hot Chicken also has a vegan version called Dave's Not Chicken that uses cauliflower.
How hot is Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Dave’s features seven spice levels ranging from No Spice to Reaper, which requires a signed waiver for those who dare. Each heat level uses a different spice blend.
Where does Dave’s Hot Chicken plan to open in Iowa?
Bart Coon said he plans to open three additional locations across Iowa in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, and West Des Moines.
Who owns Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Here’s where singer Drake comes in. The rapper is one of the investors in the company. Other investors include journalist and former California first lady Maria Shriver, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and “Good Morning America” anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan.
The company got its start in Los Angeles in 2017 with $900 and a dream to open a pop-up chicken shop.
Arman Oganesyan and classically trained chef Dave Kopushyan, along with brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan, debuted in a Los Angeles parking lot in 2017 and have gone on to open more than 140 locations in the United States and Canada.
Dave's Hot Chicken has grown to 329 locations across the United States and internationally, including Canada and the Middle East, as of mid-2025. The brand also has rights for more than 1,000 additional franchise locations in the pipeline.
What makes each location different?
“They’re not a cookie-cutter franchise,” Bart Coon said. Each features graffiti-style artwork with components unique to a specific market. He already considered the Iowa State Fair, “Children of the Corn” and cornfields as potential reference works for the murals.
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on , , or , or drop her a line at .