Today we’d like to introduce you to Calvin Skarlat.
Main Chick Hot Chicken was started by a group of four friends from the San Fernando Valley. Eric Dela Cruz, Paul King, Kevin Popok and Calvin Skarlat. We all come from different cooking/business backgrounds which all attribute to the success of Main Chick. We would definitely consider ourselves foodies. We fell in love with Nashville Hot Chicken as it began to get popular in Southern California. We ended up creating Main Chick Hot Chicken and launched for the first time in 2019 at the 626 Night Market. We gained a lot of experience and grew an amazing fan base through Instagram and yelp. We received an abundance of support throughout the Night Markets we attended which grew our drive to open up our first location in West LA. As newcomers to the well-established Hot Chicken scene, our team stayed resilient and wanted to prove ourselves to be the best tasting Nashville Fried Chicken Restaurant without having to wait in long lines and providing fast ticket times along with great customer service. A big goal of ours was to open in Pasadena so that all of our 626 Night Market fans could eat Main Chick without driving an hour to West LA. A few months later, we opened another store in North Long Beach. Our number 1 goal to this day is to constantly improve and we will always have that chip on our shoulder to keep improving all aspects of our operation. We now have four locations in So-Cal and 2 locations in San Diego.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being able to survive in the competitive restaurant industry is very rewarding. Since the opening of Main Chick, we have faced countless bumps in the road being a new Hot Chicken Concept in an established industry. Being an under-dog was and still is the fuel to our fire which motivates us to keep improving our menu and operation until this day. The biggest ongoing struggle that we are still facing is the Covid-19 Pandemic. Shortly after opening our first store, we had to adapt to the pandemic by focusing on keeping our staff safe and improving our business model. Throughout the pandemic, another big challenge for us was a shortage of supply from Manufacturers and an upsurge of food costs. We are very fortunate to have been able to still operate during unlike many restaurants which were forced to close down. Facing all of these challenges has pushed and challenged us to grow. None of our success would be possible without our phenomenal staff and the amazing communities of West La, Pasadena, and Long Beach who have welcomed us into their communities with open arms.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Main Chick Hot Chicken is a passion-inspired food concept serving the most unique Nashville style fried chicken to date. Our team has culminated the best version of our product to create the most enjoyable experience for guests. We serve hot chicken with spices ranging from mild to some of the hottest peppers in the world. Main Chick serves variety of chicken including Chicken Tenders, Sandwiches, Dark Meat Sandwiches and Leg Quarters. Our sides have become very popular which include our Seasoned Crinkle Cut Fries, Mac N Cheese and Creamy Slaw. We strive to create the most pleasurable experience for everyone who loves great food without the hassle of waiting in long lines.
What matters most to you?
Main Chicks number one goal is to provide high-quality fresh ingredients and the best possible dining experience to all of our locations and communities. We strive to constantly improve our customer service, food quality and consistency. We owe all of our success to of the communities that have welcomed and supported us. We give back to the communities by implementing proper health and safety practices to ensure we stay open throughout the pandemic and are able to serve. We want to be known as the Best Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant. Our plan is to expand across Southern California and potentially have restaurants around the world.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.eatmainchick.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmainchick/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatmainchick/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/main-chick-hot-chicken-west-los-angeles
Image Credits:
Sandy Pham
