Big Rick Stuart
Sep 22, 20211 min
Drake is officially in the hot chicken business. That’s according to Dave’s Hot Chicken co-founder Arman Oganesyan, who says the massively popular rapper/entertainer recently signed on as a major investor to the Los Angeles-based restaurant chain. Oganesyan isn’t saying how large Drake’s claim to the business is, but it’s pretty significant. “He has a large stake,” says Oganesyan. “As far as investors go, he has a very good stake.”
...Dave’s is on track to debut 40 new restaurants this year, with plans for some 280 locations eventually, according to Restaurant Business.
Though Drake isn’t the first big name to sign on with Dave’s Hot Chicken — actor Samuel L. Jackson and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner are both stakeholders — his participation should give an even bigger boost to the Dave’s Hot Chicken name.
Per Oganesyan, the pairing started in July when Drake’s team wanted Dave’s Hot Chicken to cater his party to celebrate receiving Billboard’s Artist of the Decade award. While serving food, the partners connected with Drake’s crew, and the rest is history.