After Defaming 76ers Legend for Eternity, Shaquille O’Neal Takes $1,600,000 Venture to the Capital of Chocolates

After constantly taking jabs at a Philadelphia 76ers legend, Shaquille O’Neal is extending a delicious peace offering to the entire City of Brotherly Love. His most precious venture is all about bringing smiles everywhere and pretty soon, Pennsylvania will be smiling. Big Diesel’s uber-popular fast casual dining experience has new concrete plans for its first locations in Pennsylvania.

Shaq’s restaurant group is picky about its operators. But it now has reliable people for spreading happiness in Sixers territory. Pretty soon the chocolate capital will boast connections to two kinds of Charles Barkleys.

Shaquille O’Neal returns Charles Barkley to Pennsylvania

Charles Barkley is a monster. We mean the sandwich. Big Chicken launched its biggest and sloppiest sandwich named after Shaquille O’Neal’s eternal frenemy and TNT co-host in 2022. Now the state where Chuck’s career began can metaphorically sink his teeth into him. Apart from the Hersey’s chocolate headquarters and the 76ers, Pennsylvania will now have Big Chickens to boast about.

Following the initial announcement this month, more concrete plans have surfaced. Among the first few locations, Lehigh Valley will be central to the new Big Chicken expansion.

Locally-based seasoned entrepreneurial family, Harsimrat and Shubreet Sidhu have passed the intensive screening process to become Big Chicken franchisees. The Lehigh Valley contains a diverse customer base with growing business opportunities and a community inclined to Shaq’s larger-than-life menu.

Since its inception in 2018, JRS hospitality has worked closely with the Los Angeles Lakers legend to bring his childhood meals to the masses. Among the dishes conceptualized by Shaq and his mom are the Lucille’s Mac ‘n cheese, the Big Aristotle sandwich, and the Big Shamrock shake.

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But none have been more buzzworthy than the Charles Barkley. The ginormous sandwich has the signature mac ‘n cheese with the giant chicken center, complete with crispy fried onions and roasted garlic barbecue aioli.

“It’s as big and over-the-top as Chuck is,” Shaq said about the sandwich and his Inside the NBA co-host. Sir Charles has never commented on the sandwich or implied if he’s tried it. Regardless, it’s not the only time Shaq has taunted the Philly legend.

Shaq makes peace with Philadelphia

While promoting Big Chicken in Houston, home of the Rockets where Barkley also played, Shaq dissed Charles Barkley, the sandwich. ”

The Charles Barkley, which is my sloppiest sandwich. You ever come here, get the Charles Barkley. It’s the sloppiest sandwich ever.” He’s talking about the sandwich, clearly. He also went after Barkley’s weight before his recent jaw-dropping weight loss.

The non-sandwich Charles began his career with the Sixers in 1984 and it was glorious before the acrimonious split. He’s still a local icon and Shaq has to do right for constantly making a joke out of him on TV. Big Chicken and its sloppy Charles Barkley sandwich are the olive branch.

So far the new franchisees are close to locking in on the new locations. The Sidhus are hoping to announce an opening date for Shaq’s restaurant soon.

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