FROM NEXT DOOR TO NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN
From serendipitous love story to neighborhood gathering place – this is how we got saucy in Glendale and brought authentic Nashville hot chicken sliders to the table.
How our founders met
Born from love in the Glendale neighborhood, Chick Next Door's story started with a serendipitous meeting between next door neighbors who became partners in life and legendary dinner parties. What began as intimate gatherings around one table grew into a dream – creating a place where friends, families, and neighbors could always find their seat at the table.
Founded in 2020, we moved into Steven's hometown neighborhood of Glendale, paying homage to the local mom & pop shops that shaped his childhood. After countless family taste tests and kitchen experiments, we realized it wasn't just about the Nashville hot chicken sliders and jumbo tenders – it was about the experience. The generations gathered together, the contagious laughter, the "yes chef!" echoing from our kitchen, and always making room for one more neighbor.
Today, Chick Next Door is more than comfort food – it's a celebration of community, friendship, and getting a little saucy together.
The story of our first Restaurant
Meet Steven Velichnian, the award-winning chef who went renegade to bring authentic Nashville hot chicken to the Glendale neighborhood. It all started in 2007 at Sunday Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues on Sunset Strip, where Steven's obsession with perfecting fried chicken sparked friendly kitchen competitions over heat levels, spice blends, and that perfect crunch.
Years of experimenting with brines, testing spice combinations, and chasing the ultimate flavor profile led to staff-favorite recipes that lived on long after the House of Blues closed its doors. From shadowing his uncle in professional kitchens to working high-end LA restaurants, Steven's journey always pointed toward one dream – opening a neighborhood spot dedicated to craft hot chicken.
Now he hand-crafts every Nashville hot chicken slider and jumbo tender daily, bringing that same passion for perfect heat levels and community gathering that started it all. Because at Chick Next Door, every bite tells the story of a chef who's always been feelin' saucy.
Get in touch
Questions, collabs, or just feelin’ saucy? Hit us up—we’d love to hear from you.
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