It all started with $900 and a fryer.

From Dave’s Hot Chicken to the planned arrival of Smalls Sliders, North County’s restaurant scene is growing. But are we getting the variety we’ve been asking for?

Image by Curtrell McCann

That’s the story behind Dave’s Hot Chicken, a restaurant that began in an East Hollywood parking lot before becoming an international brand. Today, North County St. Louis has one of its own, sitting next to a Chick-fil-A that many of us once thought would never come here. And with Smalls Sliders planning a location along New Halls Ferry Road, our restaurant scene is getting a little more interesting.

For years, North County residents have watched popular restaurant chains expand into West County, St. Charles, and other parts of the region while wondering when we’d get some of those same options. So whenever a recognizable brand chooses to invest here, I consider that a positive development. Not because we should be grateful for every new drive-thru, but because residents deserve the same variety available elsewhere.

Of course, there’s always the question of whether we really need another chicken restaurant. Between Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Hawaiian Bros, and our locally owned establishments, I understand the argument. But after years in restaurant management, I’ve learned that businesses selling similar products can offer completely different experiences.

And Dave’s is definitely selling an experience.

Unlike Nashville, where hot chicken has deep culinary roots, Dave’s started in Hollywood, and you can kinda tell. The colorful murals, oversized tenders, specialty milkshakes, and ridiculous heat levels make it feel like a restaurant designed for people who enjoy the experience just as much as the food. I especially appreciate the large FLORISSANT mural inside, which gives the national chain a little local personality.

I decided to try the Reaper, the restaurant’s hottest seasoning level. After signing the waiver, I figured I could handle it. Baby, I was wrong. That chicken was so hot I was still feeling it after nearly inhaling a 16-ounce vanilla milkshake. Once I recovered, I ordered a mild tender so I could actually taste what I was eating.

The chicken itself wasn’t particularly flavorful to me, but the seasoning, sauces, and hot honey helped. And if we’re judging strictly by the bird, I still think Lottawatta Chicken Shack across the street serves better chicken. But Dave’s has its own lane. Bring the kids, challenge your friends to try the Reaper, grab a Fruity Pebbles milkshake, and enjoy yourself.

Smalls Sliders is another concept worth watching as it plans to enter the North County market. The Louisiana-born brand focuses on cheeseburger sliders, fries, and shakes. From an operations standpoint, I understand the appeal of a smaller menu. It can simplify inventory, training, and food preparation while helping restaurants maintain consistency. But once the excitement of opening week fades, food quality, service, and value determine whether customers keep returning.

What interests me most about these developments is what they suggest about North County’s business potential. Companies don’t open restaurants simply because residents ask for them. They study traffic, demographics, consumer spending, and whether a location can support their investment. Dave’s didn’t come to Florissant as a charitable favor. It came here to do business, and that’s an important distinction.

Still, I don’t believe another chicken restaurant or burger chain automatically represents meaningful economic progress. North County has communities with different economic circumstances, and a successful commercial corridor doesn’t mean every surrounding neighborhood is experiencing the same investment. I’d love to see more grocery stores, sit-down restaurants, independent businesses, and employers offering long-term career opportunities.

I also hope our excitement over national brands doesn’t cause us to overlook the restaurants that have been serving our communities for years. Independent establishments may not have national advertising campaigns or celebrity investors, but many have built loyal customer bases through good food and relationships with their neighbors. There’s room for both.

As for Dave’s, if I want a really good chicken dinner, I’m probably going somewhere else. But if I want something fun and different, Dave’s makes sense. I’m glad North County has another option, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Smalls Sliders brings to the table.

I just hope the next wave of investment gives us more variety beyond chicken sandwiches and cheeseburgers.

Because at this rate, North County might have enough chicken restaurants to start charging the birds rent.

Curtrell McCann
Community Strategist
Ferguson Foodies Festival