Heaterz Hot Chicken opens third metro St. Louis location in Kirkwood

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Courtesy of Heaterz Hot Chicken

Heaterz' Nashville hot chicken sandwich (which can also be ordered plain) comes bottom dressed with pickles, topped with cole slaw, and is served with one side

Photo by George Mahe

The heat is on as the Nashville hot chicken trend continues to expand in St. Louis. The latest addition: A third area location of Heaterz Hot Chicken, which opened in mid-October at 129 W. Jefferson in downtown Kirkwood.

“This is our third location within seven months, and we have plans to open eight more within 18 months,” says owner Dan King. “We have very ambitious plans, and our ambition is to make every community stronger and to keep bringing new, interesting foods to the St. Louis area.” He says so far the community’s response has been “phenomenal.”

Courtesy of Heaterz Hot Chicken

Fried pickle chips

He adds that Heaterz’ menu is small and simple, with five entrées (fried tenders, wings, drummies, shrimp, breast sandwich), a handful of sides and specialty sides, plus adult boozy slushies. Entrees are served plain or Nashville hot and come with one of four sauces: ranch, honey mustard, BBQ, or Heaterz House Creamy Garlic.

For the grand opening of the restaurant's third area location on November 6, Heaterz will be handing out door prizes throughout the day. The restaurant has a “Currency of Caring” program, which allows customers to buy tokens to help feed community members in need. Usually, those tokens are $8, but those tokens will be half off November 6 from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. There will also be prizes, such as free T-shirts and St. Louis Blues tickets.

Courtesy of Heaterz Hot Chicken

Owner Dan King

King is a self-proclaimed “nurse by trade” who entered the restaurant industry in March 2021 with Alton Sports Tap. He attended school in Nashville, where two of his friends are chefs in the hot chicken industry. “It became apparent to us that there was a need in the market within the Greater St. Louis area,” King says. “We really did not have a lot of Nashville hot chicken here yet.”

Courtesy of Heaterz Hot Chicken

Nashville street corn and chicken tenders

That realization led King to start Heaterz, a restaurant specializing in chicken and shrimp dishes that can be ordered plain or Nashville hot. King opened the restaurant’s first location in Alton in April and a second in Swansea in September. And with the forthcoming Kirkwood location, King says, “We’ve popped in with some samples, and the response was wonderful. Everyone is very welcoming and looking forward to us creating Nashville hot chicken in the area.”