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Big Chicken (restaurant chain)

Big Chicken is a fast casual restaurant chain in the United States. It was founded by retired Hall of Fame National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal, along with JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group.[2] The chain serves Louisiana-style fried chicken sandwiches, Cheez-It macaroni, and cookies "as big as basketballs."[1] A few locations offer craft beers, wine, and hard liquor.[3]

The menu reflects O'Neal's public personality, with each offering named after a person or quality in his life. One is named for his colleague and sometime rival Charles Barkley, while the Uncle Jerome is named for his bodyguard.[4] Others are named for O'Neal's nicknames, like the Superman and the Shaq Daddy.[5]

Background

O'Neal became one of the NBA's most marketable stars in the 1990s, and after his retirement in 2011, he made considerably more in endorsements than he did during his playing career.[6] As part of his marketing reach, O'Neal paid more than $100 million to own or co-own more than 150 restaurants in the Five Guys Burgers, Auntie Anne's, Papa John's, and Krispy Kreme chains.[7]

Openings

In October 2018, O'Neal opened his first Big Chicken restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3] To promote the launch, O'Neal starred in Big Chicken Shaq, a reality TV series that premiered on October 6, 2018, on Facebook Watch.[8]

Expansions of the chain soon followed, especially after it announced its franchise program in August 2021.[9] Locations the chain expanded to include Tempe[10] and Gilbert, Arizona;[11] Glendale[12] and Valencia, California;[13] Baltimore, Maryland;[14] Kansas City, Missouri;[15] Bridgewater, New Jersey;[16] Elmont, New York;[17] Miamisburg, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Austin and Houston, Texas; Seattle and Renton, Washington; Peabody, Massachusetts; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Several Big Chicken restaurants opened inside sports arenas,[18] military bases,[19] and Carnival cruise ships.[20]

International

Big Chicken open its first franchise outside of the United States within the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.[21]

See also

External links

References

  1. Michael Klein. Shaq brings his Big Chicken chain to Philadelphia. It's big, all right — including a cookie the size of a basketball. Philadelphia Inquirer, 2023-06-23, retrieved 2023-06-24^
  2. About Big Chicken, retrieved 2023-06-24^
  3. Al Mancini. Shaq debuts menu for new Las Vegas restaurant Big Chicken Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 11, 2018^
  4. Laura Michaels. Shaq's Food Empire Grows Even Bigger As His Big Chicken Franchise Heads To A $1.5B Sports Arena Franchise Times, 2022-03-29, retrieved 2023-06-24^
  5. Andrea Brown. Shaq's Big Chicken restaurant coming to Mukilteo this summer HeraldNet, 2023-02-10, retrieved 2023-06-25^
  6. Tyler Lauletta. Shaquille O'Neal makes more money now off of endorsements and advertising than he did during his Hall of Fame NBA career Business Insider, 2018-03-26, retrieved 2023-06-24^
  7. Satagni Sikder. Shaquille O'Neal, Who Paid Over $100 Million to Own 155 Restaurants, Expands Another Food Business with Latest Victory Essentially Sports, 2022-08-21, retrieved 2023-06-24^
  8. Daniel Holloway. Shaquille O'Neal Chicken-Restaurant Reality Show Ordered for Facebook Watch (EXCLUSIVE) Variety, July 25, 2018, retrieved October 6, 2018^
  9. Laura Michaels. Why Shaquille O'Neal Is Putting His Star Power Behind Big Chicken Franchise Times, March 29, 2022, retrieved July 22, 2023^
  10. Big Chicken enters ASU’s Mullett Arena FastCasual, October 12, 2022^
  11. Nicole Gutierrez. Shaq’s ‘Big Chicken’ opens its Gilbert location KNXV-TV, March 13, 2023^
  12. Farley Elliott. Laker Legend Shaquille O’Neal Asks Glendale How His Chicken Tastes Eater, February 3, 2020^
  13. Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken Invites Valencia Out for BIG Fun at Grand Opening Celebration Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, June 28, 2023^
  14. Shaq's Big Chicken joins revamped CFG Bank Arena concessions WBAL-TV, March 22, 2023^
  15. Big Chicken Opens in Kansas City International Airport QSR Magazine, February 28, 2023^
  16. Sal DiMaggio. Big Chicken, backed by Shaq, announces opening date for Bridgewater restaurant Courier News, July 9, 2024^
  17. Shaquille O’Neal-Owned Big Chicken Opens at the New UBS Arena Franchising.com, November 18, 2021^
  18. Samantha Dorisca. Shaq's Food Empire Grows Even Bigger As His Big Chicken Franchise Heads To A $1.5B Sports Arena AfroTech, 2021-11-16, retrieved 2023-06-24^
  19. Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken Restaurant Opening In San Diego SanDiegoVille, August 2, 2024^
  20. Shay Spence. Shaq Is Opening a New Location of His Chicken Restaurant on a Carnival Cruise Ship People Magazine, 2018-09-13, retrieved 2023-06-25^
  21. Thu 6th Feb 2025 - Propel Thursday News Briefing Propel Hospitality, 2025-02-06^