The basics:

• Daddy’s Chicken Shack opens Aug. 14 in Tinton Falls
• Esperto Hospitality Group acquired franchise in June
• Company previously announced plans for 13 NJ locations
• Opening fundraiser in Monmouth County will benefit JBJ Soul Kitchen

Daddy’s Chicken Shack is getting ready for its New Jersey debut.

The fast-casual restaurant brand will officially launch Aug. 14 at Wayside Crossing in Tinton Falls, located just off the Garden State Parkway, NJBIZ has exclusively learned.

The grand opening comes two months after Holmdel-based multi-concept operator Esperto Hospitality Group acquired the franchise from Colorado private equity firm Area 15 Ventures. The parties did not disclose financial terms of the deal.

Founded in 2018, Daddy’s Chicken Shack serves a Southern-inspired menu. Its offerings include buttermilk-brined, hand-battered chicken sandwiches, popcorn chicken bites, salads, fried pickles and loaded fries.

“Bringing Daddy’s to Tinton Falls is the first step in a much bigger plan for New Jersey and beyond,” Esperto founder and Chairman John DiLeo said. “We saw a brand with real legs and a menu that stands on its own, and we built the team to scale it the right way. We are already developing the next locations, and we intend to build the brand here, and pave the way for future national expansion.”

Bringing Daddy’s to Tinton Falls is the first step in a much bigger plan for New Jersey and beyond.
– John DiLeo, Esperto founder and chairman

Ryan Murrin, Esperto chief marketing officer, shared with NJBIZ, “We are actively evaluating additional sites across North Jersey, with plans to open multiple locations in the state. We have not yet signed additional leases, so specific locations and opening timelines are still to be determined.”

Shacking up

Ahead of handing over ownership earlier this summer, Area 15 said it had undertaken a “strategic refinement” of the brand. The plan sought to improve unit economics, refocus the concept and build operational efficiency before pursuing aggressive expansion. The firm said it believed Daddy’s Chicken Shack was ready for “disciplined regional expansion through proven operators with deep local roots.”

According to the brand, its five-year-old franchise program has resulted in about 160 development agreements. However, as of August 2026, just one Daddy’s Chicken Shack location is open – Austin, Texas.

Esperto was among the first franchise groups to sign with Daddy’s Chicken Shack. Under an agreement announced in April 2024, the company said it plans to open 13 locations across Monmouth and Ocean counties over the next several years.

The group’s restaurant portfolio includes several of its own concepts, including Local House Kitchen + Bar in Tinton Falls, Catezza Italian Kitchen & Bar in Red Bank, Café Pari in Red Bank, and The Office Restaurant & Lounge in Toms River.

And Esperto is also working on a longer-term strategy to expand Daddy’s Chicken Shack along the East Coast through franchising. The company recently brought on a chief development officer, chief marketing officer and development director to help drive that growth.

Meal with a mission

To celebrate the Tinton Falls grand opening, Daddy’s Chicken Shack will host an Aug. 20 fundraiser from 4–7 p.m. benefiting the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation’s JBJ Soul Kitchen.

The eatery will donated all proceeds from a special $1 menu of sandwiches, tenders, bites, fries and drinks to the nonprofit, according to Esperto.

Founded by New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, the foundation works to provide solutions and opportunities for people facing economic hardship. Through its pay-it-forward model, JBJ Soul Kitchen serves both paying customers and people experiencing food insecurity.

Since 2011, the recent James Beard Foundation Impact Award winner has served more than 234,000 healthy, three-course meals at locations in Newark, Toms River and Red Bank. The restaurant concept also provides job training, resume support and employment assistance, while partnering with local mental health providers and connecting guests with housing resources.

“We’re so grateful to Esperto Hospitality and Daddy’s Chicken Shack for choosing to support JBJ Soul Kitchen during their grand opening,” Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation Marketing Manager Tessa Caruso said. “Community partnerships like this help us continue our mission of providing hope, dignity, and access to nutritious meals for our neighbors facing food insecurity.”

Daddy’s Chicken Shack in Tinton Falls:

Following the Aug. 14 grand opening, Daddy’s Chicken Shack will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

At Wayside Crossing, Daddy’s Chicken Shack shares a Stavola Realty Co.-developed commercial property with cannabis dispensary The Wildflower Market. A Wawa convenience store and gas station also is under construction at the site.