Local family bringing national hot chicken chain Hangry Joe’s to Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A national hot chicken chain that has one sandwich so spicy you have to sign a waiver to eat it is coming to East State Street.

Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings plans to open in early August at 6150 E. State St., suite 114, which is next to Crumbl cookies. The restaurant specializes in Nashville hot chicken with a menu filled with chicken tenders, wings, wraps, Korean chicken nuggets and its sandwiches dubbed chicken sandos. For sides it offers waffle fries, macaroni and cheese and cider slaw.

“Whether you’re a mild-mannered eater or a spice warrior, we’ve got you covered,” the company said in a news release. “And for those brave enough to tackle our Angry Hot Chicken, don’t forget to sign the waiver. Yes, you read that right – a waiver.”

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The restaurant, which was founded in 2021 in Virginia, is being brought here by a local family familiar with franchising. Brandon Wilhelm, co-owner of the local franchise, has spent the past 18 years developing Subways across the region. He is still a Subway franchisee, as well as a co-owner of Ole Salty’s in Rockford.

Wilhelm’s father, Jeff, brought the first Subway to the city in the mid-1980s, and his family has spent 37 years developing Subway restaurants.

“We’re hoping to develop Hangry Joe’s across the Midwest as well,” Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm helped a franchisee open in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, on Friday.

The 1998 Guilford High School graduate said he was hesitant to start developing another franchise after so many years with Subway, but he was impressed once he met with the owners and tried the food.

“They said, come on out to Virginia and if you don’t like the food we’ll buy your plane ticket home,” he told the Rock River Current. “When I tasted it I was like, this is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. … It was all about the food and it really blew me away.”

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This is the first Hangry Joe’s coming to the Rockford region. There locations in Naperville and Chicago, among dozens of other spots across the country as well as Dubai and Korea.

“Rockford has been crying out for a food revolution, and we’re here to answer the call,” the company said in a news release. “Plus, we heard the people of Rockford are pretty tough, so we’re excited to see how they handle our Angry Hot Chicken.”

Hangry Joe’s Rockford

Grand opening: TBD, early August 2024

Where: 6150 E. State St., suite 114

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

Online: hangryjoesrockford.com

Contact: 815-706-2488; store255@HangryJoesRockford.com

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas