Dave’s Hot Chicken plans 25 Polish restaurants as search for sites begins

American restaurant chain Dave’s Hot Chicken is preparing to enter Poland with an initial target of around 25 locations, creating a new source of leasing demand for the country’s retail and food-and-beverage property market. Azzurri Group, which controls the brand’s development rights across several European markets, has appointed Cushman & Wakefield to help assemble its Polish location portfolio.

Poland will become the chain’s first market in Central and Eastern Europe. Azzurri intends to develop the Polish operation together with a local joint-venture partner and is currently looking for a company capable of supporting the rollout. No opening date or location for the first Polish restaurant has yet been announced.

The property search will focus on locations capable of supporting a broader national expansion rather than simply securing a single flagship restaurant. Cushman & Wakefield will assess potential sites according to customer traffic, visibility, accessibility, surrounding uses and the characteristics of the local customer base. The objective is to establish a pipeline capable of supporting approximately 25 restaurants during the first phase.

Preparations for the Polish launch have been under way for several months. Azzurri had already begun discussions with commercial property owners and potential Polish business partners earlier in 2026, while developing the logistics required to support expansion. The company intends to open the restaurants progressively, using the performance of the first locations to guide subsequent development.

The Polish expansion forms part of a much larger European programme. Azzurri holds development rights for Dave’s Hot Chicken across ten continental European countries and plans at least 180 restaurants across those markets. The brand began its European expansion in London in December 2024, with Poland now selected as the next significant step into Central and Eastern Europe.

Dave’s Hot Chicken was established in Los Angeles in 2017 and has subsequently expanded through franchising and international development agreements. The concept specialises in Nashville-style chicken and has grown to more than 400 restaurants globally, according to current reports surrounding the Polish expansion. Azzurri itself operates a wider hospitality portfolio of more than 240 restaurants and stores.

For Poland’s commercial property market, the significance of the entry lies in the scale of the planned network. A rollout of around 25 restaurants would require a continuing pipeline of suitable premises rather than a one-off market entry, potentially creating opportunities for landlords across several major Polish cities. The final property mix has not yet been disclosed, but the appointment of a dedicated real estate adviser indicates that site selection is already an active part of the expansion programme.