Idahoan behind two major restaurant chains dies. But his Boise ‘wish’ to come true
Boise has lost a talented franchise restaurant operator who brought two major national chains to the area.
But his latest project — a first for the City of Trees — is still on track.
Meridian resident Doug Davis died July 8 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 67. This will not affect the Boise debut of Dave’s Hot Chicken, which Davis was in the process of opening in a former Carl’s Jr. at 1700 W. State St.
The target launch date is Aug. 20, said his wife, Amy Davis. “It was Doug’s wish that we get this restaurant open and continue to develop around the Treasure Valley when the time is right,” said Davis, owner and chief administrative officer of the franchise group Hot Chicken Idaho LLC.
Over the years, Doug Davis made a significant impact on Boise-area fans of spicy chicken. An obituary about his life, which was “filled with joy, adventure and love," is published at Legacy.
Before Buffalo Wild Wings was the nation’s ubiquitous sports-bar brand — the one with ads constantly aired during televised NFL games and other events — Davis became founding co-owner of Screamin’ Hot Concepts LLC. His Buffalo Wild Wings franchise group grew to 15 locations in Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho and Florida, Amy Davis said. The first two Idaho stores opened in 2009, first in Meridian at 3223 E. Louise Drive, then in Nampa at 2101 N. Cassia St.
Davis parted ways with Buffalo Wild Wings in 2015. But he re-emerged in 2022 with another fast-rising franchise chicken brand. Along with his wife, son and a friend, he created Hot Chicken Idaho LLC and introduced California-based Dave’s Hot Chicken to the Gem State.
Idaho’s first Dave’s Hot Chicken opened at 3450 N. Eagle Road in Meridian. Business immediately was exceptional — with 40% of it coming from drive-thru transactions, Doug Davis said.
“We’ve had a banner year,” he told me in January 2024. “It’s just been great. It was better than we had expected. We knew it would be strong, but not that strong.”
The Davises soon opened a Nampa location at 16365 N. Marketplace Blvd. in Treasure Valley Marketplace.
Now, just in time for the start of school, Boise will get its own Dave’s Hot Chicken. With the brand’s popularity — not to mention the restaurant’s proximity to Boise High and the North End — success for Doug Davis’ legacy seems inevitable.