Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Derrick Hayes ventured into the food industry by chance. The entrepreneur spent much of his upbringing in the kitchen with his grandfather where he garnered his culinary knowledge by assisting with Sunday dinners and crafting flavorful dishes through the mixture of seasonings and spices. After facing personal hardships, Derrick was given a second chance that inspired him to change the trajectory of his life. Derrick relocated to Atlanta where the cheesesteaks didn’t quite meet his standards of the West Philly staple.
Inspired to bring his West Philly roots to the Peach state, Derrick launched Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks – named for his late father. The original location – which was housed in a 700-square-foot gas station in Dunwoody and called Dave’s Philly Water Ice – rose to fame when Philadelphia native and popular actress Eve visited the location for a taste of home while filming in Atlanta – and the rest is history. Today, Hayes oversees the brand consisting of downtown Atlanta and Doraville, Ga locations, Forest Park, Ga, Lawrenceville, Ga, and in Atlanta’s famed Mercedes-Benz Stadium and a food truck.
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