Shaq’s Big Chicken Chain Gets 50 New Locations, None in Louisiana
Shaquille O'Neal is a name that is synonymous with Louisiana. Shaq may have played high school basketball in San Antonio - but he really made waves when he became a Louisiana State University standout. This 7ft-1in, 325lb monster of a center terrorized his opponents (and the backboards) so much that he was named the #1 draft pick in the NBA in 1992. Since retiring from the game, Shaq has kept himself busy as a celebrated club DJ, an actor, sports commentator, and more. Now, he has added restauranteur to his resume.
According to KSAT, Shaq Diesel has announced that his Big Chicken chain of restaurants would add 50 new locations in the next two years in Texas. By 2024, the massive former pro basketball player and chicken aficionado says that Big Chicken locations in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin will be open and ready to serve up Shaq's signature sandwiches, tenders, salads and more.
While I am sure that Shaq's Big Chicken is delicious (just look at the "Shaq Attack" pictured above), and that the venture will be a successful one, I am a little upset after hearing the news. It's not that the great state of Texas doesn't deserve some well-prepared yard bird, it's the fact that Louisiana got left out of Shaq's plans for chicken dominance. We love fried chicken, and we love Shaq! Did the destroyer of backboards forget where he came from? More to the point: Why isn't Shreveport getting a Big Chicken?
To be fair, there is a Big Chicken location slated for Louisiana. According to a report from August 21st of last year, the Advocate claims that it will be built inside the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge as part of their massive renovation. The restaurant will reportedly take the place of Celebrity Grill. Big Chicken currently has locations in Glendale, CA, Las Vegas, NV, a ghost kitchen in Rochester, NY, inside the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, inside the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY, and on select Carnival Cruise line ships.
If you don't want to travel or wait to try Shaq's Big Chicken, there is another option. Thanks to a partnership with delivery experts Gold Belly, you can actually have it shipped directly to your home!