A familiar fast-food destination on State Street in Boise went dark over the weekend. But something hotter — in more ways than one — will brighten its future.
Carl’s Jr. recently closed its flagship, standalone restaurant at 1700 W. State St. In, from Albertsons grocery store.
Spicing up the building, Dave’s Hot Chicken plans to open there next.
Specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, Dave’s was founded in 2017 as a California pop-up. Since then, the fast-casual chain has exploded. “When a restaurant starts in an East Hollywood parking lot and ends up with nearly 1,000 locations in a development, you know something epic is afoot,” food website Taste Table recently declared. “Dave’s Hot Chicken has been the poster child for explosive growth in the restaurant industry, and 2025 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet.”
Idaho franchisees Doug and Amy Davis introduced Dave’s Hot Chicken to the Gem State with a Meridian restaurant in 2022 and a Nampa store in 2024. But Doug Davis — the man who brought Buffalo Wild Wings to Idaho before parting ways with that brand in 2015 — always has his eye on the city.
“I’m going to bring it to Boise,” he told the Statesman in early 2024. “I guarantee it.”
But North End fans of Dave’s Hot Chicken — not to mention Boise High School students — will have to be patient. “I expect to be open in mid-August 2026,” Davis said in the message.
It’s hard to see the Dave’s-for-Carl trade as anything less than a win for fast-food fans. and the neighborhood itself. The nearly 4,000-square-foot building will be modernized with the stylish street-mural look of Dave’s Hot Chicken. “Our concept is a locally owned and operated franchise, deeply connected to the spirit of Boise and the North End,” Davis said in a statement to the city of Boise. “Public art reflects the unique character of Boise, and Dave’s street art embodies that spirit.”
The building will also be remodeled, “minimizing structural changes and optimizing existing infrastructure. The drive-through will remain an essential service component and will continue to operate under the new concept.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants are known for their colorful, street-art.
“In addition to the main dining and kitchen areas, the project will include approximately 1,500 square feet of currently vacant space in the restaurant footprint. Consistent with the approach taken at our Meridian location, this area will be remodeled to include a climate-controlled indoor/outdoor patio and new conference rooms and storage space.
“The patio will feature attractive garage-style doors, allowing the space to function as an open-air dining environment in favorable weather, while heating and cooling systems will ensure comfortable, year-round use.
“Interior upgrades will include new finishes, equipment installations, and modifications to meet Dave’s Hot Chicken prototype standards. Exterior improvements will focus on fresh branding, signage, and design enhancements that complement the surrounding area and match the franchise’s identity.”
The death of the Carl’s Jr. on State Street last year led to the closing of another location at 226 S. Broadway Ave.—the first Carl’s Jr. in Idaho. The year before that, Carl’s Jr. also closed at 4999 W. Glenwood St. in Garden City.
But what if you want to eat a Carl’s Jr. hamburger? There are still many options. The chain continues to operate Treasure Valley locations in Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Nampa.
Dave’s Hot Chicken Sliders and Tenders are available in seven heat levels.
