Since opening in February 2021, Big Dean’s Hot Chicken has gained a local following. But Darby Cummings, State College Director of Operations for Snap Custom Pizza and Big Dean’s Hot Chicken, says a lot of people don’t seem to realize that the downtown State College spot isn’t a chain.

“This is the only stand-alone concept of Big Dean’s,” she says. “It’s one of a kind.” The Nashville hot chicken restaurant is in State College because of a connection to Snap Custom Pizza, down the street, whose parent company Chef Dean Dupuis (that’s Big Dean) worked with to develop the concept.

For Restaurant Week, they’ve bringing back a favorite sauce that hasn’t been on the menu for a while. The Sexy Honey sauce is a hot honey that is “super craveable” and can be ordered with any item on the menu (but available in store only).

This week, they’re also undergoing a remodel and will be closed June 19-20, but Darby says she hopes locals stop by when they are open to see what’s going on. You can also check out the Big Dean flavors when they compete in Wing Fest on July 25.