Hot Chicken Takeover or HCT: Southern Chicken was an American fast casual fried chicken restaurant chain in Columbus, Ohio that specialized in Nashville hot chicken.
History
Founder Joe DeLoss started the company after visiting Nashville, Tennessee and being introduced to the local specialty hot chicken in 2013.[1] The company was initially founded as a pop-up restaurant in April 2014, before launching a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter later that year to fund the purchase of a food truck.[2]
In 2021, the restaurant chain was acquired by Untamed Brands. Untamed Brands was taken over by Craveworthy Brands in May 2024.[3]
In October 2024, Craveworthy Brands CEO, Gregg Majewski, announced they would be combining their Chicago-based chain The Budlong Southern Chicken, into the Hot Chicken Takeover concept, under the name HCT: Southern Chicken.