GILBERT, Ariz. – Get ready to eat life to the fullest, Gilbert! Shaquille O’Neal owned Big Chicken is set to open its second location in Arizona on March 15.

The highly anticipated opening in Gilbert is the first to debut in a 12-unit agreement with accomplished Arizona-based restaurant ownership team and existing Big Chicken franchisees, Steve Christensen and Reid Richards. Situated at 366 N Gilbert Rd., Big Chicken’s premium menu offerings will include famed chicken sandwiches like the Big & Sloppy, Uncle Jerome and Shaq Attack, as well as classic fan favorites like crispy tenders, popcorn chicken and Lucille’s Mac N’ Cheese.

“We’ve been counting down the days in anticipation for our debut in Gilbert,” said Christensen. “In terms of quality and flavor, Big Chicken is the best of the best. There’s nothing else like it in Greater Phoenix and we can’t wait to grow Big Chicken’s fan base across Arizona. Bring your appetite, because Big Chicken is here!”

With more than 13 years of successful partnership behind them, Christensen and Richards will bring their extensive experience in restaurant ownership and operations to open 11 more Big Chicken locations across Arizona. Together, the talented duo will leverage their restaurant management expertise and skill set in business development to establish Big Chicken’s presence in Gilbert.

“With an all-star duo like Steve and Reid, we’re confident that Big Chicken is going to be a BIG success in Gilbert,” said Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken. “Guests will love our hand-crafted, high-quality menu offerings accompanied with a fun and energetic atmosphere. We can’t wait to continue our Arizona expansion with 11 more openings on the horizon. Let’s go BIG, Gilbert!”

Big Chicken in Gilbert is the second location to open in Arizona, with the first location currently serving athletes, fans, concert goers and more at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Mullett Arena. In addition to the Gilbert and ASU locations, Big Chicken also has restaurants open in Las Vegas (Paradise Road and Tropicana Avenue); Los Angeles (Glendale and; Valencia); Seattle (Climate Pledge Arena and Renton); and in the Dayton, Ohio region, as well as metro-New York’s UBS Arena, The Moody Center in Austin, Palm Springs’ Acrisure Arena, Kansas City International Airport and on three Carnival Cruise ships. With a lineup of openings on the horizon, Big Chicken will soon open its doors in St. Louis and Houston.

The franchise investment has been designed to align with successful, multi-unit investors who want to become part of Shaquille’s dream team. Restaurant experience — whether traditional or not — is preferred, but not required. With significant interest from new owners, franchise investors will have the advantage to join a brand on the cusp of worldwide expansion.

To learn more about Big Chicken in Gilbert, visit www.bigchicken.com/gilbert-az.

To learn more about the Big Chicken franchise opportunity, visit www.bigchicken.com/franchise-information.

Follow Big Chicken on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok to stay up to date on new restaurants, menu items and brand updates.

About 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. Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors. From crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to Cheez-It® crusted mac n’ cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes, each menu item tells a story all while offering guests an inside look into the life and personality of Shaquille O’Neal. With seven traditional locations currently open and several 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.

About Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the world’s most successful athlete-turned-businessmen, whose accomplishments both on and off the court have translated into a highly sought-after consumer brand. As an entrepreneur, sports analyst, DJ, restaurateur, and brand ambassador, Shaquille O’Neal’s signature “Business of Fun” mantra resonates throughout each of his countless endeavors.

The 15-time NBA All-Star’s unprecedented athletic career spanned nearly two decades and earned him countless awards and honors, including NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Rookie of the Year, four NBA Championships and a First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer.  Currently, O’Neal is an analyst on TNT’s Emmy Award-winning “Inside the NBA.”

O’Neal, who has a PhD in Leadership and Education, established The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation which provides resources for underserved youth. He also gives back through a number of annual philanthropic programs including Shaq to School, Shaqsgiving, and Shaq a Claus.

The launch of his Las Vegas eatery Big Chicken has further elevated Shaquille’s status as he has positioned himself as a successful restaurateur. The brand currently has sites open in Las Vegas, Glendale, CA, two Carnival Cruise Ships (Mardi Gras and Radiance), Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, UBS Arena in New York with many more locations under development.

Follow Shaquille O’Neal on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Authentic Brands Group

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, which owns a portfolio of more than 40 iconic and world-renowned Lifestyle, Entertainment and Media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace. Its brands have an expansive retail footprint, including more than 9,100-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops in more than 150 countries and generate approximately $24 billion in global annual retail sales.

Authentic is committed to transforming brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Eddie Bauer®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Nautica®, Izod®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hervé Léger®, Frye®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Jones New York®, Tretorn®, Prince®, Van Heusen®, Arrow®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx® and Thomasville®.

For more information, visit authentic.com.

Follow Authentic on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

Search