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Wichita

Wingstop and Dave's Hot Chicken Opened in Wichita

The two restaurant chains have officially launched new locations within the city this month.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Screen-print poster illustration of two stylized restaurant structures, evoking the growth of new dining options in a suburban commercial landscape.
Wingstop and Dave's Hot Chicken have opened new locations in Wichita, expanding fast-casual dining options for the local community this month. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Wingstop and Dave's Hot Chicken have both opened new restaurants in Wichita. These additions bring new dining options to the NewMarket Square and Greenwich Road areas.

Why it matters

The arrival of these popular national chains expands the local fast-casual dining landscape. These openings represent significant new footprints for both brands as they look to capture more of the local market.

Wingstop has established a new location in the former Interstate Batteries space at NewMarket Square, while Dave's Hot Chicken has opened at 2692 N. Greenwich Road in a former Blaze Pizza storefront.

The players

Wingstop

Wingstop is a national chain of restaurants specializing in chicken wings.

Dave's Hot Chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken is a rapidly growing fast-casual restaurant brand known for its Nashville-style hot chicken.

The details

Wingstop offers service daily from 10 a.m. to midnight at its NewMarket Square site. Meanwhile, Dave's Hot Chicken operates from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and stays open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, though the location does not feature a drive-through.

Timeline

  1. Wingstop opened at NewMarket Square on October 7, 2026.

  2. Dave's Hot Chicken held a soft opening on October 8, 2026.

  3. Dave's Hot Chicken hosted its grand opening on October 9, 2026.

Market Landscape

The entry of these two brands into the Wichita market follows the industry-wide trend of fast-casual chains expanding their footprint in mid-sized cities. This expansion intensifies competition within the local dining sector as brands vie for real estate in high-traffic retail hubs.

Residents in Wichita now have additional dining options for chicken-focused meals near NewMarket Square and North Greenwich Road. Customers visiting the new Dave's Hot Chicken location should note that the restaurant does not currently offer drive-through service.

The takeaway

These restaurant launches reflect a continued effort by national franchises to secure prime retail space in growing suburban corridors. Local diners can benefit from these additions by having more variety in their quick-service dining choices.

What happens next

The ownership team plans to open a second Dave's Hot Chicken location on the west side of Wichita in 2027.

Further reading

For more updates on the city's changing business environment, visit Openings & Closings.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Wichita Eagle.

Live Poll

Do you welcome the opening of more national restaurant chains in your local community?