Derrick Hayes, a West Philadelphia native, started Big Dave's Cheesesteaks in 2014 in Dunwoody, Georgia. The original location was in a 700-square-foot gas station. Hayes was inspired to bring his West Philly roots to Atlanta after moving there and not being able to find a traditional cheesesteak. He named the restaurant after his late father, who inspired his passion for entrepreneurship. The restaurant grew out of the gas station location and into its own store after lines for cheesesteaks reached up to 200 people.