Today we’ve got not one, but two big hot servings of “Big Chicken” news. See what we did there? Shaq’s favorite fast-food outlet is making news on both sides of the country. How cool is that?
First, the big man himself visited one of his Big Chicken locations, this one in Gilbert, Arizona on Sunday. The big man made a big appearance at the restaurant in the suburb on the west side of Phoenix. Needless to say, fans and patrons were pretty surprised.
The franchisee that runs this particular restaurant also sponsors several youth basketball teams in the Valley of the Sun, and O’Neal was there to show his appreciation: “I like that they sponsor the six basketball teams. That’s awesome,” he said.
O’Neal said it was important to help out when and where one can… not so important that anyone gets a lot of credit for it. It’s the work that counts: “I was always taught, growing up in a military family, just do the right thing. I don’t want credit for it. There’s a lot of people that are generous — they don’t get the credit. So if they don’t get the credit, I don’t really want credit for doing stuff that you’re supposed to do.”
Check the video below for a look at the big man’s visit to the Arizona store.
Click to watch the video!
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, there’s news that Big Chicken is getting way, way bigger along the east coast. Big Chicken has signed a deal with a restaurant operating company to bring six of O’Neal’s fast-casual chicken restaurants in Massachusetts.
The deal signed between Big Chicken and Restaurant Brands International is slated to bring outlets to Boston, the MetroWest area, Cape Cod, and the North Shore regions of the Bay State.
Restaurant Brands International spokesman Barry Lattuca told local reporters, “With a deep-rooted history in Boston and its restaurant scene, we are thrilled to venture into the exciting world of Big Chicken.
Lattuca says it’s not all about the celebrity status of Big Chicken owner O’Neal, “When we went for the discovery day, we knew it was the right fit because we truly love the product and the passion behind it. For us, it’s not just about the celebrity connection; it’s about the food. We can’t wait to expand the brand’s presence along the coast of Boston.”
The new additions are pushing Big Chicken past the 300 location mark around the country. The restaurant currently has locations open in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, Illinois, and Ohio, as well as in New York’s UBS Arena, The Comcast Center in Philadelphia, The Moody Center in Austin, the Footprint Center and ASU’s Mullett Arena, Palm Springs’ Acrisure Arena, St. Louis’s Busch Stadium, Kansas City International Airport, and on three Carnival Cruise ships.
The 15-time NBA All-Star’s restaurant is known for a menu that fuses his home-cooked childhood favorites with bold new flavors. On the Big Chicken website, Shaq talks about his favorites: “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.”
We’re still waiting for a Big Chicken close to the ShaqFu Radio blog offices… we’ know it won’t be long!