After immigrating to the United States from Iran, Shawn Lalehzarian found his first job working at a local restaurant in San Diego washing dishes. Not knowing much English at the time, he was able to improve his communication skills significantly as he discovered his passion for the restaurant industry. As he progressed through his career, he was promoted to higher-up positions and eventually landed a senior management role in an international food and beverage company. In his senior management position, Shawn oversaw multi-unit F&B operations with more than $30 Million dollars in revenue and 400 employees. He also played a key role in opening over 40 different restaurants around the nation and Canada. In this position, he got to work with brands such as Wolfgang Puck, Starbucks, Pinkberry, California Pizza Kitchen and Chili’s just to name a few. Shawn opened his own first restaurant in 2014, second one in 2016 and The Red Chickz in 2018.
In 2021, Lalehzarian launched the franchise program for The Red Chickz, a Nashville Hot Chicken brand, where he continues to serve as co-founder and CEO. The Red Chickz puts its West Coast spin on the Southern favorite, offering the most innovative menu within the hot chicken segment. As of 2022, the brand has made its tagline, “Hotter Than You,” come to life with acknowledgments from national food publications such as Nation’s Restaurant News’ The Power List and QSR’s 40/40 list, praising Lalehzarian’s strong leadership and The Red Chickz’s continued innovation in food and technology within the fast-casual dining space. Today, The Red Chickz has five locations in Los Angeles, CA, Culver City, CA, Carlsbad, CA, Cypress, TX, and most recently Fresno, CA, with an additional 24 locations in development.
