Franchise owner plans to expand Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken brand in Middle Tennessee

A Wilson County business owner plans to bring a Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken & Wings restaurant to Lebanon as part of a continuing redevelopment of the Western Plaza along West Main Street.

Sam Patel, who lives in Mt. Juliet and owns several Middle Tennessee businesses, hopes to open the Hangry Joe's, along with a drive-thru, later this year, he said.

Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken markets itself as a rapidly-growing Nashville-style chicken franchise with a signature Nashville-style chicken sandwich. Locations can be found in several states, predominantly in the east.

Several spice or heat levels that start with no heat or seasoning and max out at "angry hot" are offered. Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Fingers and Chicken Waffle are listed as the brand's top three menu items on the Hangry Joe's website.

"I think Hangry Joe's is a great brand to bring to the Lebanon market because Nashville is known for hot chicken, (and) when we want good hot chicken, we have to drive to downtown Nashville," Patel said. "It is a growing brand, and you will see growth in this brand in the Middle Tennessee area very soon."

Patel also owns a Subway franchise on Eastgate Boulevard in Lebanon. The restaurant was closed because of heavy damage to its leased building during the March 2020 tornado. The new Subway is part of a new commercial center that Patel had built and owns.

He is working on opening other Hangry Joe's franchises in the Middle Tennessee region, he said.

Plans are also moving forward to open a Hangry Joe's restaurant on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro, according to that city's building and codes department. Patel is not involved in that project.

Lebanon's Western Plaza was anchored for years by Kmart until the store closed.

Firehouse Subs, Tropical Smoothie Café, Shoe Dept. Encore, Ross Dress for Less, Marshall’s, Buff City Soap, Five Below and Ulta Beauty are among new stores announced at Western Plaza.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.