After some COVID-related delays, Hot Chicken Takeover has opened the doors to its Westerville restaurant, 435 Polaris Pkwy.
HCT used the extra months to its advantage, completely redesigning the space with M+A Architects to better suit the dining climate it has opened into.
“As a community-oriented business, we put considerable thought into how we open our Westerville location safely,” says HCT Founder & CEO Joe DeLoss. “Controlling potential lines and creating the space for appropriate social distancing continues to be top of mind for our team. We’ve shifted our opening approach significantly and remain focused on being a responsible steward in this community.”
Key design changes included temporary structural partitions, intentionally sectioning off key traffic points throughout the restaurant, and the restaurant’s largest kitchen to date, providing staff with more space to spread out.
“M+A really pushed us to think outside the box, helping us reimagine our Westerville blueprint and envision the future of in-restaurant dining,” DeLoss says. “Together, we put comfort, control and convenience at the forefront of all decision making. The changes we implemented, based on today’s economic climate, are evident throughout the space.”
There’s also a first for the brand: a full-service drive-thru window which will debut in January 2021.
For now, HCT Westerville will offer its signature menu through online ordering, call ahead, curbside pick-up and delivery only.
It’s the fourth Central Ohio location for the Nashville-style hot chicken joint which also operates locations at North Market and Easton and in Clintonville, and fifth overall, including its Crocker Park restaurant in Cleveland.
HCT Westerville will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Christmas Eve hours are 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., closed Christmas day.) Hours are slated to expand in 2021.
For more information, visit hotchickentakeover.com.