The hot popularity of Joella’s Hot Chicken has convinced restaurateur Tony Palombino to convert his Boozbozz Pizza & Taphouse at 13401 Shelbyville Rd. in Middletown to his new restaurant concept. The second Louisville area Joella’s is scheduled to open June 1.

The new location’s larger space will allow Palombino to set up a catering kitchen, as well as serve eat-in and take-away customers.

Joella’s Hot Chicken, offers classic Nashville-style spicy chicken in six spice levels:  Traditional Southern, Spiked Honey, Ella’s Fav, Tweener, Hot And “Fire In Da Hole.” Made-from-scratch side dishes include creamy mac & cheese, sweet-vinegar slaw, garlic fries, kale crunch salad and a southern favorite, black-eyed pea salad.

Joella’s has two out-of-town locations in Lexington and the Cincinnati area, and additional restaurants are already planned for Indianapolis, St. Louis, Dayton, Columbus and Washington, DC.