A fast-food chain that originated in California and specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken has landed in West Springfield.
Crimson Coward announced on Friday (Jan. 3) that its new restaurant in the Old Keene Mill Shopping Center (8424 Old Keene Mill Road) is now open. Operating daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the 1,449-square-foot eatery is located in between Zips Cleaners and the forthcoming juice shop South Block.
Launched in Downey, California, near Los Angeles in 2018, Crimson Coward has since expanded to more than a dozen locations across six states. The Old Keene Mill restaurant is the chain’s fifth in Virginia and second in Fairfax County, following an opening last year on Nov. 29 in Annandale.
“We’re excited to announce the opening of our Springfield store, located in the Old Keene Mill Shopping Center,” said Nabil Asad, the West Springfield franchise owner and D.C. area representative for the company’s expansion. “We have more exciting openings planned in 2025 in the DMV area.”
A Crimson Coward spokesperson said he can’t confirm any specific details yet about the expansion plans for the D.C. area, including locations and possible opening dates. Spots in Ownings Mills and Elderberg, Maryland, listed as upcoming on the company’s website have now opened, but one in National Harbor is still in the works.
While the opening in West Springfield didn’t come with any announced promotions or deals, the business intends to organize “a customer appreciation event at a later date,” according to a press release.
More on Crimson Coward from the release:
Every Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken joint offers a variety of hand cut, marinated chicken meals and tempting homemade sides and is dedicated to creating a unique dining experience with an open kitchen design. It begins with fresh food cooked in front of guests and made to order so every meal is hot and tender. Each piece of the freshly prepared chicken is hand breaded and finished with the heat level of the guest’s choice: country, which has no heat, mild, medium, Crimson-hot, and Burrrrn Baby Burn
for those looking to fire up their taste buds.“Local communities have really embraced the fresh Nashville hot chicken bold flavors and unique open kitchen setup of Crimson Coward,” said John Filipiak of RMG-MA who partners with Asad as the local area representative partner for the chain’s franchise expansion. “We’re continuing to grow Crimson Coward in the DMV area, and beyond. Our team is eager to share our authentic Nashville Hot Chicken and daily fresh made sides. We look forward to being a part of the Springfield community.”
Old Keene Mill Shopping Center has seen a flurry of activity since Whole Foods moved down the road to Springfield Plaza in October 2023. In addition to Crimson Coward and Zips Cleaners, the shopping center has added Trader Joe’s, European Wax Center, the Japanese restaurant Kanji Sushi and McAlister’s Deli — all since last fall.
South Block and the fast-casual stir-fry chain Honeygrow are expected to open in the first half of this year, a spokesperson for Federal Realty, the shopping center’s owner and property manager, previously told FFXnow.
