Haven Hot Chicken Ready To Open CT Store No. 6 In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Haven Hot Chicken, which has already brought "Nashville hot chicken" and "Not Chicken" concepts to the state five times over, announced Monday an opening day for its sixth location — in Middletown.

Jan. 27 will be the first official day at 524 Main St.

The 1,800-square-foot Middletown location will feature the brand's menu of crispy chicken and vegetarian options ranging from Country (not spicy) to Haven (extremely spicy), including its signature item, "THE Sandwich."

The brand also operates locations in New Haven, Orange, Norwalk, North Haven and Storrs.

"Central Connecticut, here we come with our newest location, the first in Middlesex County, convenient to Wesleyan University, Middlesex Hospital and so many other businesses, including quick access from Route 9," said Steve Barichko, the general manager of the new location.

Saturday's opening is slated for 11 a.m. and the chain will give way 203 THE Sandwiches to the first guests in line.

"We can't wait to welcome in the newest members of our fuego family to try the best hot chicken and Not Chicken they've ever had," Barichko said.

The new Middletown location will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Middletown store will have seating for in-house dining and offer online ordering with curbside takeout and UberEats delivery, in addition to catering services.

It will also participate in the brand's long-term partnership with Connecticut Foodshare, donating $1 from the sale of each banana pudding to the organization. In 2023, Haven Hot Chicken donated more than $30,000 to the organization, officials said.

At the Storrs opening in November, co-founders Etkin Tekin and Jason Sobocinski said they felt the need to bring their love of Nashville-style chicken to Connecticut.

"We wanted to share the experiences we have when visiting Nashville," Tekin said. "We fell in love with the chicken there. The combination of the pickles, the slaw, the double-fried chicken on a potato roll. It's all these dynamic flavors coming together."

Aside from the sandwich, the menu includes chicken and waffles and the Tendie Trio. The chicken is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside and they key is frying it first, then dunking it in hot oil, Sobocinski said.

"It's this," Tekin said, pointing to his staff shirt that said, "crispy, crunchy, juicy, spicy, delicious."

Oh, and those multiple versions of hot ...

"Ordering 'country' has no spice at all and 'mild' is just a hint of hot," Sobocinski said. "As we progress from 'medium' to 'hot' to 'haven' levels, you start to see things."

The Not Chicken is a cauliflower-based "steak" served as a sandwich.

Sides include slaw, fries, garlic dill pickles and mac and cheese.
Oh and banana pudding.

And that pudding ...

"Order the banana pudding," Tekin said. "Order two and bring one home. And people have been known to dip their fries in it. After all, it is considered a side dish."