Big Dean’s Hot Chicken To Close In Downtown State College As Owners Plan ‘New Concept’
Big Dean’s Hot Chicken, 208 W. College Ave., will close on Nov. 25 after five years in business, according to signs inside the restaurant thanking customers for their patronage.
The signs encouraged customers to “visit Dean’s staff down the street at Snap Custom Pizza,” which shares the same ownership, and “at our new concept opening in Spring 2027.”
The director of operations for Big Dean’s and Snap told StateCollege.com that the new concept restaurant will open in the current Big Dean’s location, but deferred questions to co-owner and founder Peter Howey, who did not respond to a message seeking comment on Wednesday afternoon.
Big Dean’s Hot Chicken opened in 2021, offering award-winning chef Dean Dupuis’ Nashville Hot, Inferno and homestyle fried chicken in tenders and sandwiches. Selections also come with a choice of sauces, such as BD’s Signature and Tennessee Sunshine BBQ, Texas toast, cole slaw, crinkle-cut fries, and homemade pickles.
Sandwich varieties include BBQ, Buffalo, hot honey, and classic, while dessert offerings feature Tennessee mudslide and banana pudding.
The State College location was the first for Big Dean’s Hot Chicken, which last year opened a shop inside Franklin’s Table Food Hall at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. DuPuis is also opening Big Dean’s BBQ & Hot Chicken in Marlton, New Jersey.
Through Nov. 25, the State College restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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