New restaurant moving into old Boston Market space in Henrietta

Last summer, the Rochester area’s last Boston Market shut down , having been evicted from its storefront at 942 Jefferson Road in Henrietta.

By mid-August, a new restaurant should be up and running there.

Dave’s Hot Chicken , which started in 2017 as a pop-up food stand in an East Hollywood, California, parking lot and now has more than 200 U.S. locations, plans to open in the 2,900-square-foot space following a remodel that’s underway.

The fast-casual chain, whose celebrity investors include Usher and Drake, specializes in jumbo hot chicken tenders and sliders, hand-breaded, deep-fried and served on a spice-intensity scale of “no spice” to “Reaper.”

Recently, it introduced Dave’s Not Chicken — tenders and sliders made from cauliflower — at some locations.

Side dishes include seasoned fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, and kaleslaw, a coleslaw variation.

Water, soda and milkshakes make up the drink menu.

The Henrietta location will be the first in the Rochester market. The closest one to here is in Tonawanda, Erie County.

The business was founded by childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganeshyan and brothers Tommy Rubenyan and Gary Rubenyan, four 20-somethings who were inspired by the no-frills approach of their go-to burger place, In-N-Out Burger, and a growing demand for fried chicken in their hometown of Los Angeles, they told TimeOut .

Kopushyan has a culinary background and developed the recipes, hence the chain being named for him.

David Dworkin of LLD Enterprises and Jefferson Henrietta Associates worked out the lease deal for the shop here with the franchisees, who include brothers Brad and Drew Degrazia, and Joe Kondas.

Kondas and the others traveled to Southern California to meet the restaurant’s founders and sample their food. His assessment is as follows: “Once you taste it, it ruins other chicken for you.”

Hours at the Henrietta location will be 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. until midnight Friday and Saturday.

All the Dave’s Hot Chicken locations feature bold color schemes and custom graffiti. Graffiti at the Henrietta location will feature Rochester-area icons.

Dworkin said he had at least a dozen inquiries about the Jefferson Road site but was looking for a tenant that would complement businesses coalesced around the intersection of Jefferson and East Henrietta roads, including Taco Bell, Jimmy John’s, White Rabbit Dessert Experience, Haveli Indian Cuisine, and Sobol, which serves smoothies, bowls and waffles.

He is hopeful he’ll also find someone to take over the vacant Dunkin' Donuts next door to where Dave’s Hot Chicken will go.

“There are brands that like to co-locate with other brands, and we’re certain that will happen here as well,” he said.

Dave’s Hot Chicken was named the nation’s fastest-growing chain in 2022 , the company said, citing research from consulting firm Technomic.

In addition to its own U.S. stores, it has the rights to more than 700 franchises nationwide and in the Middle East and Canada.

Kondas said he and the other investors plan to open a total of eight to 10 Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants between Rochester and Buffalo.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood .

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New restaurant moving into old Boston Market space in Henrietta