Big Chicken, a fast-food chain owned by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, appears as though it is heading to Fort Worth.
According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, the build-out of a shell at 9755 North Freeway is scheduled to begin in December. The project, with an estimated construction cost of $764,000, encompasses 2,510 square feet that is expected to include both a bar and drive-thru.
It has a completion date of next March.
A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment about its growth plans in Texas by press time.
The Dallas Morning News reported in June 2022 that O’Neal planned to open more than 50 Big Chicken stores in Texas, including in Dallas-Fort Worth.
According to the publication, Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern said he “would be stunned” if the company didn’t consider Frisco, Prosper, and Plano as part of its expansion plans. Big Chicken has stated intentions to open more than 150 restaurants over the next five to six years.
The restaurant was founded in Las Vegas in 2018 by O’Neal, Authentic Brands Group, and JRS Hospitality, according to its website.
Big Chicken operates more than 20 stores across the U.S. and on cruise lines and has more than 300 stores in development, QSR Magazine previously reported.
It operates three stores in Houston, Austin, and Richmond, and another is in development in Lubbock, its website states.
“Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors,” from crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to macaroni and cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes, per its website.
Gensler is listed as the design firm for the work on the Fort Worth store listed on the TDLR filing.
