Nanu’s Hot Chicken will have its grand opening and cut the red ribbon for the first location in Roxborough on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 6151 Ridge Avenue. Owners Ikram Rashid (who owns locations at Drexel and Chestnut Street) joins forces with two first-time Nanu’s owners Dayem Pervaiz and Kashif Almas to bring the famous hot chicken sandwiches to Ridge Avenue! The trio will host a giant food giveaway with comp chicken and hot chicken meals (with fries) for hundreds of people starting at 4:00pm through 7:00pm, or while supplies last. Opening festivities will also include an opening ceremony with prizes, DJ and more. Roxborough Development Corporation will help with the celebration and host tables, vendors and music across the street in the Roxborough Pocket Park. New Ridge Brewing will pour beer specials outside for the party too. The celebration will continue throughout the weekend with specials and deals for neighbors and residents.
“Roxborough, we hope you are ready because we are bringing the heat!,” said Rashid. “We have had so many requests for Nanu’s around the Roxborough and Manayunk area. We found the perfect location on Ridge Avenue. We can’t wait to welcome all of our neighbors and new friends. We also are excited to work with Roxborough Development Corporation and fellow businesses/ community groups to get involved in the community.”
“Roxborough Development Corporation is thrilled to welcome Nanu Chicken to Ridge Avenue, a vibrant addition to our growing corridor,” said Roxborough Development Corporation Executive Director Jacqueline Cusack. “Their arrival marks yet another exciting step in the growth of our business community, and we couldn’t be more excited about the continued momentum and the positive impact it will bring to our corridor and neighbors! Nanu’s is one of three new businesses to open in a row on the same block on Ridge Avenue – and they are all a great compliment to our growing events and programs as well as to our existing businesses. We are hot off last week’s largest festival in the history of Rox with fall fest expanding from 6k to 12k – our festival growth and these new businesses really demonstrate the increased interest in Roxborough!”
Nanu’s Hot Chicken is crafted with love and care, offering a tantalizingly rich taste that promises to delight the palate with every bite. The menu features halal Nashville style hot chicken tenders, sandwiches, loaded fries, sides, desserts, smoothies and catering options. Guests are invited to test their taste buds with homemade spice-coated chicken tenders ranging from no spice to reaper, in regular or hot honey.
Nanu’s was created by four brothers who had a dream to make real change happen in the world and who had a passion for helping those in need, including Nanu, who was born with Down Syndrome. Imran, Ikram, Haroon and Nanu Rashid created Nanu’s in 2023 and opened their first location at 2210 Cottman Avenue in July of that year.
The brothers started the first location, then decided to expand the business, and began searching for partners. Muhammad Faisal was the first to join their team. Faisal now owns three locations – starting with 3301 Market Street aka Drexel University in Philadelphia, which opened in December 2023. He went on to open 4407 Chestnut Street in April 2024. Faisal now also owns the recently opened Bucks County location.
For the new Roxborough location, Ikram has now teamed up with two new Nanu’s partners -Dayem Pervaiz and Kashif Almas.
Including the new Roxborough restaurants, Nanu’s has quickly grown to include nine locations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, with a tenth on the way in a few weeks – stay tuned for details on another surprise location ready to open before the end of 2024.
NANU’S FAMILY STORY
Family is one of the most important things that we value in life and while growing up, our mother always feared who would care for our brother, Nanu, if anything ever happened to our parents. Nanu is our amazing little brother who was born with Down syndrome and is the source of our love and compassion. We never wanted our mother to fear so we came up with a plan to make sure our family and Nanu always had a successful business to help support us and him in the future.
Our mother never has to worry about who will care for Nanu, but we want to do more for everyone else in the world. Thus, Nanu’s Hot Chicken was born. In the future, we plan to start a Charity Foundation and donate a percentage of all our proceeds to helping those in need. We want to be able to help anyone like Nanu, anyone who may need help. We want to help feed and give aid to those less fortunate here at home or around the world.”
At Nanu’s Hot Chicken, we believe in the power of giving back to our community. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of our charity section dedicated to making a meaningful impact. Stay tuned as we prepare to unveil our charity initiative, where you’ll have the opportunity to support causes close to our hearts. Together, let’s make a difference and spread positivity. Coming soon – your chance to contribute and help us create positive change!
ABOUT IKRAM RASHID
In food business since 2003 in NY, used to do Gyro Halal Food carts, did that until 2009, moved to Philly and started first location of halal food carts in Philly in 2010 until 2023, has a brother they call Nanu, he has down syndrome, mother and father always worried about him when he grows up, what will happen when we pass away, three brothers decided to give something to parents so they don’t have to worry about younger brother, decided to come up with hot chicken idea and name it after him, started in July 2023, first location was NE Philly on Cottman, people gave a great response, liked food, idea, from then on everyone came, wanted to partner on other locations, 8 locations, more coming – Ikram Rashid (oldest), Haroon Rashid (middle), Imran Rashid (middle), Nanu Rashid (youngest), Nanu lives here in Philly, bring him to event, he is 21; Came to Philadelphia because in NY it was getting really crowded, Philly was the next closest to NY where they can afford, had a system, wanted a bigger house, everything is cheaper, houses, rents, way of life is a lot better here than NY, lots of tension, stress, did business there, why not give it a try here, when they started people said Philly is only known for Philly cheesesteak, chicken and rice won’t work, if it works it works, started first location, did great, never looked back, put carts in NE hospital, everywhere; Parents are still around, father is back home (Pakistan), coming Nov 4, mother is here; Down syndrome – in USA government helps a lot, education, healthcare, when you have someone like this at your house, you know how hard it is to have them, raise them, take care of them – in their country there are lots of people need help, do something in his name we can use to benefit other people in Pakistan, we can support him, some kind of nonprofit organization, help people who need it, even here – in Pakistan, people make fun of them, laugh, jokes, one of his uncles have a school, want to open school system down the road, take profits and put towards charity
Nanu’s in Roxborough is 1,800 square feet and seats 20 people for inside dining. Store hours will be Monday through Sunday, seven days a week, from 10:00am to 11:00pm. For more information, visit nanushotchicken.com and follow @nanushotchicken on social media.
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