A Nashville-based chain is expanding into Memphis. Family-owned Hattie B's Hot Chicken will open in the summer at 596 Cooper Street.
Hattie B's is owned and operated by father-and-son team, Nick Bishop, Sr. and Nick Bishop, Jr., who currently have two locations in Nashville and one in Birmingham, Ala.
Much like the diverse Memphis barbeque scene, Nashville is known as the home of hot chicken with a history stretching back to the 1930s.
The Bishops’ hot chicken is prepared with five increasing levels of heat, including “mild,” “hot,” “damn hot” and “shut the cluck up!!!,” which is made with cayenne, habanero and ghost peppers.
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Co-owner Nick Bishop Sr.“All these things that are incorporated will really put you down,” jokes Nick Jr.
“But there are people who can handle that or who lost a bet. It’s fun to see people challenge themselves and move up in the heat ranks.”
Rounding out the menu are homemade Southern sides and desserts like black-eyed pea salad, collard greens, pimento mac & cheese and banana pudding.
The Bishops purchased the former Curb Market building and plan to renovate it over the next several months. Nick Sr. estimates the total upcoming renovation costs at about $350,000 for the 2,700-square-foot building.
The Curb Market, a gourmet grocery store that opened in March 2016, has shuttered the Cooper location in anticipation of its spring move to Crosstown Concourse.
“In terms on interior, we’ll have to move a few walls around and expand our kitchen a little bit,” Nick Jr. said. “On the front side, there will be an outdoor patio game area.”
The game area will possibly consist of a small putting green and other games for kids.
“We just want it to be a fun and relaxed environment, a place where families can come and parents can take a load off,” said Nick Jr. “We’ll have great local craft beer and some banana pudding for afterwards to cool your mouth down.”
He said the property is virtually turn-key with cosmetic work making up the bulk of the expense.
“It’s got a great street presence, and I like that it’s in between Overton Square and the Cooper-Young area,” said Nick Jr. “There’s a ton of parking and some really great outdoor space for dining.”
Hattie B’s will hire two to three managers from the Memphis area, along with up to 30 additional employees.
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