COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Several days after shuttering Hot Chicken Takeover's final Columbus location, the brand's parent company is speaking out for the first time about the decision to withdraw from central Ohio.
Craveworthy Brands, which acquired Hot Chicken Takeover in 2024, issued a statement on Monday confirming that, despite efforts to revive the Columbus-born chain, the concept had become "unsustainable."
"Craveworthy Brands' mission has always been to give brands a fighting chance," the statement said. "We step in when we see potential others may overlook, and while that means there are incredible wins and opportunities, it also means there are moments when extremely difficult decisions must be made to protect the heart of a concept."
Ramen eatery Ampersand leaves Short North, remains open in WestervilleThe statement marks Craveworthy's first public comments since closing the last remaining Hot Chicken Takeover restaurant at the North Market last weekend. In recent weeks, the company had shut down locations in Grandview Heights, Gahanna and Westerville. Other restaurants in Clintonville, Easton Town Center, and Lewis Center closed earlier this year.
Craveworthy said that when it acquired the brand from its previous owner, "it was at its lowest point and only days away from closing its doors for good," but the company "invested countless resources and fought tirelessly to rebuild and grow Hot Chicken Takeover."
"Even with those efforts, it became unsustainable," the company said. "Closing locations is never easy, and this decision was made with care and purpose. In some cases, it's about preserving a brand's spirit rather than stretching it beyond what is possible. Columbus will always be the home of Hot Chicken Takeover."
On Saturday, Rick Harrison Wolfe, the North Market's CEO and executive director, told NBC4 that Craveworthy is in default on its lease, owing the market "significant amounts in back rent," and failed to respond to multiple attempts to resolve the situation. He called the closure "deeply concerning," and said it marked a disappointing end to a once-celebrated partnership.
"North Market was proud to be the very first brick-and-mortar home for Hot Chicken Takeover," Wolfe said. "To see the relationship deteriorate to this point saddens me -- not just because of the financial strain it creates for the market, but because of the broken trust and missed opportunities to work together toward a solution."
Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken seeking ‘right locations’ for delayed Ohio expansionHot Chicken Takeover first launched in Columbus in 2014, gaining a loyal following for its Nashville-style hot chicken, plant-based nuggets, and classic sides. Last fall, the brand introduced a new menu featuring throwback items like chicken-fried steak and hand pies.
Craveworthy acquired Hot Chicken Takeover's former parent company, Untamed Brands, in 2024 and announced plans to eventually merge the chain with Budlong, a Chicago-based concept, under the new name HCT: Southern Chicken. Despite those plans, the Columbus-area restaurants retained the original Hot Chicken Takeover branding until they closed.
Whether HCT: Southern Chicken will launch elsewhere remains unclear. In its statement, Craveworthy did not address future plans for the brand outside central Ohio but emphasized the emotional weight of the closures.
"While this chapter of Hot Chicken Takeover's story is coming to a close, the heart of the brand lives on through the guests, team members and partners who made it so special," the company said.
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