FORT WORTH – A new fried chicken restaurant run by a familiar face has opened in North Texas.
Big Chicken, partially owned by basketball legend Shaquille ONeal, opened its doors in Fort Worth on Tuesday. Its part of a deal that expands the brand to several Texas markets, including Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
It’s off of I-35W, across from Alliance Town Center. As a nod to Oneals’ jersey number 34, the first 34 people in line got free food for a year.
The restaurant combines ONeals home-cooked childhood favorites with todays trending flavors, according to its website. Each menu item tells a story while giving guests a peek into the life and personality of ONeal.
Items on the menu at the Fort Worth location include a chicken sandwich with mac and cheese and crispy fried onions, and a Nashville hot chicken sandwich.
ONeal is a relatively new resident of North Texas and has been very active in the community. It was his idea to bring his bass music festival to Fort Worth, and he is working with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office on a program to buy back guns.
Big Chicken is a fast-growing fast casual chicken restaurant chain founded by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal With its playful menu items and focus on quality ingredients, Big Chicken has quickly become a favorite for chicken sandwich lovers across the United States But who exactly owns this popular restaurant concept?
The Origins of Big Chicken
Shaquille O’Neal opened the first Big Chicken restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada, in October 2018. This was the start of the chain. After leaving the NBA in 2011, O’Neal came up with the idea for Big Chicken. He planned to open a fast-casual restaurant that served foods like fried chicken sandwiches and mac and cheese that he grew up with.
O’Neal didn’t launch Big Chicken entirely on his own. He teamed up with two major companies to turn his idea into reality – Authentic Brands Group and JRS Hospitality.
Authentic Brands Group is a brand development and marketing company that has partnered with celebrities like Muhammad Ali and Marilyn Monroe to expand their brands. JRS Hospitality is a restaurant operator based in Las Vegas. Together, these three partners provided the perfect combination of culinary expertise, marketing savvy and celebrity power to get Big Chicken off the ground.
The Ownership Structure Behind Big Chicken
Who really owns Big Chicken? Shaquille O’Neal’s company, Authentic Brands Group, and JRS Hospitality work together to own the business.
Here’s a breakdown of the ownership:
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Shaquille O’Neal – As the founder of Big Chicken, O’Neal owns a significant stake in the company through his investment firm O’Neal Enterprises He oversees marketing and promotion using his celebrity status
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Authentic Brands Group – This brand management company owns the majority stake in Big Chicken. They contribute marketing, product development and licensing expertise.
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JRS Hospitality – As the on-the-ground restaurant operator, JRS Hospitality handles real estate, accounting, supply chain and daily operations for Big Chicken locations.
O’Neal has made it clear that even though he is the face of the brand, he is building the business with experienced partners. “I’m not just slapping my name on something,” he said. I’m there tasting samples, picking the menu, designing the look. “.
The Growth of the Big Chicken Brand
The first Big Chicken opened in Las Vegas in 2018, and since then it has grown quickly across the United States. Here are some key milestones:
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August 2021 – Big Chicken announces its franchising program to expand nationwide.
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November 2021 – The first airport location opens at Salt Lake City International Airport.
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March 2022 – Big Chicken opens its first sports arena location at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
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June 2022 – The total number of Big Chicken locations reaches 18.
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February 2023 – Big Chicken opens its first international location in Macau, China.
Big Chicken’s largest markets include cities in California, Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio and Texas. The brand has continued to grow through a mix of corporate-owned locations and franchises.
There are now over 30 open Big Chicken restaurants across the United States. The ownership team has bold plans to open over 200 locations by 2025. They are currently targeting expansion in markets across the South and Midwest.
The Big Chicken Menu and Restaurant Experience
The Big Chicken menu features fried chicken sandwiches, tenders and sides inspired by O’Neal’s childhood favorites. Menu items are named after O’Neal’s nicknames and people in his life, like the Shaq Attack Sandwich and Uncle Jerry Chicken Tenders. Some fun signature items include:
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Charles Barkley Sandwich – Fried chicken breast with spicy barkley sauce
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Shaq-a-Roni – Chicken tenders with mac and cheese
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Cookie Shaq – A giant chocolate chip cookie weighing 1 pound
The restaurant design features O’Neal’s jerseys and trophies along with lively, contemporary decor. Locations aim to provide a lively gathering spot centered around great fried chicken. Many have outdoor patios, full bars and big screen TVs for sports viewing.
Shaq’s Vision for the Future of Big Chicken
As Big Chicken continues its ambitious expansion plans, O’Neal remains highly involved in guiding the brand’s strategy and vision. He has said he sees vast untapped potential in the fast casual restaurant market, both in the U.S. and overseas.
O’Neal envisions Big Chicken becoming a global brand, growing to over 1,000 international locations in the future. He also wants to expand the menu to add healthier options while staying true to the core focus on fried chicken.
With Shaq as the face of the brand and experienced partners leading operations and franchising, Big Chicken is poised for continued growth. It’s an exciting time for this celebrity-powered chicken concept that offers a taste of Shaq’s childhood in each fried chicken sandwich. Keep an eye out as Big Chicken locations continue popping up across the map!
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Julia Falcon is a digital content producer at CBS News Texas. Julia has previously written for news outlets across Dallas-Fort Worth like the Denton Record-Chronicle, D Magazine, 1080 KRLD and 105. 3 The Fan. She covers a span of topics, focusing on sports and trending topics. Every week, Julia produces a show called “Eye on Trending,” where she answers top trending questions.
Shaquille O’Neal-owned Big Chicken eatery is coming to Columbus
FAQ
Who owns Big Chicken?
There is a dream team of partners behind Big Chicken. They are JRS Hospitality, a successful Las Vegas-based ownership group; Authentic Brands Group, a multinational, multi-billion-dollar brand development, marketing, and entertainment company; and Shaquille O’Neal, a basketball legend who is in the Hall of Fame.
Who is Big Chicken backed by?
In addition to the new Craveworthy investment and management role, Big Chicken is backed by O’Neal, JRS Hospitality (“JRS”) and Authentic Brands Group (“ABG”), the renowned brand management company.
Does big Chicken have a franchise?
With several traditional locations currently open and in the development pipeline, Big Chicken is prepped to begin U. S. and international expansion through franchising. To learn more about Big Chicken, visit www. bigchicken. com. SOURCE Craveworthy Brands.
Does big Chicken have fried chicken?
Big Chicken is a fast casual restaurant chain in the United States. It was started by Shaquille O’Neal, a retired NBA star in the Hall of Fame, along with JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group. The chain serves Louisiana-style fried chicken sandwiches, Cheez-It macaroni, and cookies as big as basketballs.
Why did craveworthy invest in Big Chicken?
In early 2025, Craveworthy Brands, a leading, multi-brand restaurant platform company, made a strategic investment in the Brand, which included managing operational control. Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors.
Will big Chicken join craveworthy?
Big Chicken will join Craveworthy’s robust portfolio of 15 brands that operate in various culinary segments including chicken, contributing to the collective growth of its family of brands.
Is Big Chicken owned by Shaq?
Big Chicken is a fast casual restaurant chain in the United States. It was started by Shaquille O’Neal, a retired NBA star in the Hall of Fame, along with JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group.
What restaurants does Shaq own in Vegas?
Shaquille O’Neal owns 155 Five Guys restaurants, 17 Auntie Anne’s, 150 car washes, 40 24-Hour Fitness centers, a movie theater, and several Las Vegas nightclubs—making him one of the most successful athlete-entrepreneurs in the world.
Who is the CEO of Big Chicken restaurant?
Big Chicken is also backed by O’Neal, JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group. Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern will remain at the helm of the brand and work with Craveworthy Brands CEO and Founder Gregg Majewski.
What chicken restaurant does Guy Fieri own?
We’ve ranked 12 fried chicken chains from worst to best, and our favorite place happens to be owned by Food Network Star and mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri. Fieri’s Chicken Guy! restaurant has just 14 locations, spanning from LAX airport in Los Angeles to famed seaside resort hotspot Atlantic City, New Jersey.