ROSEMONT, Ill. – Get ready to eat life to the fullest, Rosemont! Shaquille O’Neal-owned Big Chicken is set to open its first location in Illinois on July 11.

The highly anticipated opening in Rosemont is the first to debut in a multi-unit agreement with accomplished Chicago-area entrepreneur Patel. Situated at 9437 West Higgins Road., 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. In addition, the restaurant will open debuting a new menu offering exclusive to the Rosemont location in partnership with Illinois’ popular coffee and donut shop, Stan’s Donuts. Coined the Spicy Chicken Stanwich, the menu item features Stan’s freshly baked maple glazed donut, Nashville Hot Chicken and Big Chicken sauce.

As part of the grand opening festivities, the first 34 guests in line on Tuesday, July 11 will receive Big Chicken sandwiches for a year, limited to one sandwich per week. 

“In terms of flavor, quality and overall atmosphere, Big Chicken surpasses all expectations and we’re thrilled to introduce the brand to Chicagoland with our first opening in Rosemont,” said Patel. “We know what it takes to thrive in Chicago, and we’re confident that Big Chicken is going to set itself apart in the city’s competitive restaurant scene. With its innovative menu offerings, energetic dining environment and star-powered backing, the restaurant will be a BIG hit among guests. We hope you’ll join us on July 11 for our official debut in Chicagoland.”

Once one of the largest franchisees in the 7-Eleven system, Patel brings with him nearly 20 years of business ownership experience in the convenience store model. Big Chicken expands his franchise investments into the restaurant industry and continues his suburban Chicagoland franchise investing and operating strategy. Leveraging his extensive experience and market expertise, Patel and his partners have plans to open more Big Chicken locations across Illinois.

“With a partner like Patel, we’re confident that Big Chicken is going to be wildly successful in the Chicagoland restaurant scene,” said Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken. “We’re especially excited for this opening because we’ll be launching with a specially crafted chicken sandwich in partnership with Chicagoland’s famed donut shop, Stan’s Donuts. The Spicy Chicken Stanwich, in addition to established popular menu items, are sure to win over the hearts and appetites of guests in Rosemont. Let’s go BIG, Chicagoland!” 

In addition to the newest restaurant in Rosemont, Big Chicken currently has locations open in Las Vegas (Paradise Road and Tropicana Ave.); Los Angeles (Glendale and Valencia); Seattle; Houston; Gilbert, Arizona; and in the Dayton, Ohio region, as well as in metro-New York’s UBS Arena, The Moody Center in Austin, ASU’s Mullett Arena, Palm Springs’ Acrisure Arena, St. Louis’s Busch Stadium, Kansas City International Airport and on three Carnival Cruise ships. 

To learn more about Big Chicken in Rosemont, www.bigchicken.com/rosemont-il. 

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 nine 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.

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