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. It’s part of a deal that brings the brand to more cities in Texas, like Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.
Its located off of I-35W across from Alliance Town Center – and the first 34 restaurant goers in line received free food for a year, as a nod to ONeals jersey number.
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.
In Fort Worth, you can get a chicken sandwich with mac and cheese and crispy fried onions, as well as 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 company that builds and markets brands. They have worked with famous people like Muhammad Ali and Marilyn Monroe to make their brands bigger. JRS Hospitality is a restaurant operator based in Las Vegas. The three partners worked together to get Big Chicken off the ground. They had the right mix of cooking skills, marketing know-how, and celebrity power.
The Ownership Structure Behind Big Chicken
So who exactly owns Big Chicken? The ownership structure is a collaboration between Shaquille O’Neal’s company, Authentic Brands Group and JRS Hospitality.
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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Big Chicken is mostly owned by Authentic Brands Group, a company that manages brands. 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 emphasized that while he is the face of the brand, he is working together with experienced partners to build the company. He has stated, “I’m not just slapping my name on something. 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.
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FAQ
Is Big Chicken owned by Shaq?
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.
What restaurants does Shaq own in Vegas?
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most successful athlete-businesspeople in the world. He owns 155 Five Guys restaurants, 17 Auntie Anne’s, 150 car washes, 40 24-Hour Fitness centers, a movie theater, and several high-end nightclubs in Las Vegas.
Who is the CEO of Big Chicken restaurant?
Big Chicken is also backed by O’Neal, JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group. Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, will continue to run the brand and work with Gregg Majewski, CEO and founder of Craveworthy Brands.
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! has only 14 locations, from LAX airport in Los Angeles to Atlantic City, New Jersey, a famous beach resort town.
Who owns Big Chicken?
Founded in 2018, Big Chicken is backed by a dream team of partners; JRS Hospitality, an accomplished Las Vegas-based ownership group; Authentic Brands Group, a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar brand development, marketing and entertainment company; and Hall of Fame basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.
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 founded by retired Hall of Fame National Basketball Association star Shaquille O’Neal, 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.