Game on: Dave Johnson uses entrepreneurial acumen to turn Chicken N Pickle into the next big thing

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of Trulaske Magazine.

Launching a successful business venture demands a strong concept, adequate funding and a whole lot of grit. But more important, it requires an entrepreneur with unyielding moxie to pull it off – that’s where Dave Johnson, B.S.B.A. ’78, steps in.

Meet Johnson, the OG of entrepreneurship in the Kansas City area.

He’s been a fixture on the KC business scene since the late 1980s, first as chairman of Maxus Properties and more recently as the visionary founder and principal of the wildly popular Chicken N Pickle, a family entertainment center inspired by Johnson’s love for chicken and his knack for spotting the next big thing: pickleball. 

Part bloodhound and part tycoon, Johnson has developed a sixth sense for business opportunities. In 2015, when Johnson was introduced to pickleball, he quickly recognized the sport’s potential to build a business around its energy and genuine camaraderie. This was years before pickleball swept the nation in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dave is such a visionary, and he’s fearless,” said Kelli Alldredge, president of Chicken N Pickle. “He will take a risk and not be afraid to fail. That’s how he manages Chicken N Pickle. We are growing a company fearlessly.”

Since the first Chicken N Pickle opened in north Kansas City in 2016, 10 more locations have sprung up across the country, including locations in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona. Currently, three more are under construction in Las Vegas, Nevada, Allen, Texas, and Thornton, Colorado, with three new locations soon to be announced. In August 2023, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce announced a $10 million investment in the business – proof that Johnson’s believers extend far beyond the boardroom.

His entrepreneurial prowess hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2022, the north Kansas City-based restaurant was named the Small Business of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, marking the third time Chicken N Pickle was named a top 10 business, first in 2020 and again in 2021. It also took home the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Award in 2018 and the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2023 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management. 

The secret sauce

The secret to Johnson’s success: Know your client. Know your market. Know yourself.

Johnson’s journey began right out of college specializing in real estate transactions at Arthur Andersen, one of the world’s largest independent tax firms. It was here Johnson met his mentor, Al Hagemann, who imparted the most valuable lesson: Above all else, know your client. 

“He told me, ‘Clients don’t want to be dazzled with your tax knowledge, they want to know that you understand their business,’” Johnson recalled. “Al was a business guy first and a tax guy second. You must first establish rapport with your clients. They are far more apt to take your tax advice, if they first trust that you understand their business.”

Over the years, Johnson has built upon that lesson, always striving to remain alert to opportunities, open to suggestions and mindful of ego. 

“I get up every day and remind myself that the most dangerous thing in business is when you begin to believe your own BS,” he said. “You need to have a healthy level of skepticism all the time and surround yourself with people who will be honest with you.”

Johnson’s advice to young people entering the business world is simple: Be patient and wait. Landing a dream job out of the gate isn’t as important as getting out of the gate. 

“In your 20s and 30s, everyone is in a hurry to get to the top,” he said. “Slow down and practice patience, you’ll get to where you want to be. Just get after it, even if it isn’t something you love. Every job I’ve ever had has taught me something valuable.” 

Proud to be a Tiger

There are few things Johnson takes more pride in than being a Mizzou alum. As a member of the Trulaske Dean’s Advisory Board, he has generously hosted fundraisers for the college at his Chicken N Pickle locations and home. Johnson is also a longtime supporter of Mizzou Athletics.

“I am very fortunate to have gone to a business school that gave me the skills and capabilities to compete with anyone in the United States,” Johnson said. “Our business school is first class, and we as alumni need to do whatever we can to empower its leaders and make it possible for anyone who wants to go, can go to the University of Missouri. That’s very important.” 

Sharing the wealth

Any given day finds Johnson immersed in his office, hunkered down at his computer, surrounded by towering stacks of papers, books and reports. His workspace resembles a mad scientist’s lab, with bookcases lining the walls, brimming with documents. Now in is late 60s, the accomplished Johnson frequently fields the question, “Why are you still doing this?” His answer is straightforward: to share the wealth.

“My greatest joy is creating wealth for others,” he said. “I’ve had a good run; now I’m hoping that other businesses will create wealth for others on the journey with me.” 

Words of Wisdom from Dave Johnson

Buy Low, Sell High “Everybody says it and is flippant about it, but it’s the most important advice in business.”

Embrace the OPMs “My two favorite OPMs are Other People’s Money and Other People’s Mistakes. We often deal with other people’s money in business, but we can also learn from other people’s mistakes. I’d much rather learn from other people’s mistakes than mine.”

Perseverance Pays Off “Never give up. If someone has told me 'no' three or four times, that’s just a 'maybe' to me. I think most people in business give up too soon. They stop after the first 'no.' I might even go back in six months and ask again.”

Value Long-Term Relationships “Be aware of people who keep showing up with new friends. If someone is changing friends all the time, that can tell you something about them. I’ve been working with the same people for 30 to 40 years. I like to see someone who has a little bit of history.”

Cautious Commitment “It’s easy to get into deals, but it can be very hard to get out of them. If I think something is exciting – whether it’s an investment, a business or whatever – I’ll first put a little bit of money into it and watch it for six months. I like to put a toehold in things and let it play out.”

Control What You Can “Never guarantee anything that you don’t control. I remember personally guaranteeing some debt that became a problem in my 20s because I was in a hurry to close a real estate deal. That’s why I don’t guarantee the debt of any company when I’m not in charge of the checkbook.”