Dave’s Hot Chicken Opens First St. Cloud Restaurant Friday at Rivertown Village

(KNSI) – Central Minnesota’s first Dave’s Hot Chicken opens Friday at Rivertown Village Shopping Center, bringing Nashville-style hot chicken to St. Cloud.

Jake Judd/KNSI News

Co-owner William Humphries, who runs the franchise group with his son Alex, told KNSI News during Wednesday’s soft opening why the family picked St. Cloud. “It’s been a tremendous market for us. We also used to own the Five Guys over there off of 2nd, and so we know the area, we’ve done well in the area.”

The family later sold its Five Guys and Crisp & Green restaurants to focus entirely on Dave’s.

The grand opening is Friday, at 3959 2nd Street South, Suite 214. The first 100 guests will get coupons for a free slider on a future visit, and a DJ will keep the party going into the evening.

The walls inside are covered in bold artwork painted by a two-person team that handles every Dave’s Hot Chicken across the country, giving each restaurant its own look. Abbie Klebs, who leads new restaurant openings for the franchise group, says that atmosphere is a big part of the draw.

“Number one is the vibe. We’re way more fun, as you can see by our walls in the restaurant if you come visit us.”

Klebs says the food is just as different from the other chicken spots in town.

“The biggest thing is that we serve Nashville-style hot chicken. And I don’t know of any other places around here that do that.”

Every tender is coated in a wet rub and dry spice after it’s ordered, with seven heat levels ranging from “not hot” to Reaper, made with actual Carolina Reaper peppers. Anyone ordering the Reaper has to sign a waiver first. Klebs says medium is about as hot as biting into a fresh jalapeño, and it’s where most spice fans start.

That was the right call for Amy from Eden Valley, one of the first people to try the food. “I think it’s really good. I got the medium. I think it’s like a perfect spice level for me.”

The menu is built around chicken tenders and sliders, with sides like spiced fries, mac and cheese and slaw. Both Humphries and Klebs point first-timers to the Hot Mozz, fried mozzarella seasoned the same way as the chicken.

The roughly 2,600-square-foot restaurant fills a former Baby Gap store that sat empty for years. Crews moved walls, fixtures and plumbing to make room for the kitchen, a dining room and a small sidewalk patio. About 50 people have been hired, mostly part-time.

Humphries has one more tip for anyone planning a visit. “Download the app. Because we run a lot of limited time offers on the app.”

Right now, new users who download it get a free slider, which Humphries says is a $7 value.

Find out more about the chicken chain by clicking here.

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