Inside the NBA’s future is uncertain, layoffs at his podcasting home, and now a setback at Big Chicken too? Things aren’t looking up for Shaquille O’Neal’s businesses at the moment. A week after the Better Collective layoffs, Big Chicken is going through some changes in Texas, where it’s been more successful yet. According to local reports, one of the Houston locations have shuttered after a year of operations. It seems like a glitch in Shaq’s big plans to add 50+ Big Chicken restaurants to the Texan foodscape.

According to a Texas-based real estate broker, the Big Chicken Shaq at Westheimer & Gessner in Houston closed on Friday, November 8. He called it, “The first casualty in the great chicken restaurant gold rush of recent years.” This is so far the only confirmation about the closure. Big Chicken is yet to comment.

In realty terms, this location was a full-size 3.800 sq. ft. restaurant with bar service in a fast-casual chicken concept. As per 2024 estimates, it takes opening a single Big Chicken franchise can cost around $680,000 to $1.5 million, including the $40,000 franchise fee.

This Big Chicken location opened in July 2024, the third in Houston. Shaq attended the grand opening, and it drew large crowds, but it ended early due to safety concerns. Given the response at the time, it never seemed like it would be hit by a crisis after a year.

The older ones were near the Westchase neighborhood and in Richmond. Majority of the Texas franchises, particularly the Houston storefronts are run by seasoned franchisees, Noordin Jhaver, Fazil Malik and Frank Malik. Big Chicken added new locations in Fort Worth and Lubbock recently.

By all accounts, Big Chicken was succeeding among chicken lovers in the competitive Texan food space. It was looking like the model for the restaurant’s expansion in Michigan, in the exact spot Guy Fieri’s chicken restaurant shuttered. If it is indeed closed for good (no confirmation if it’s permanent or temporary for reasons like renovation or relocation), the reasons can only be speculated. But it’s not the only setback Shaq has to contend with.

Shaq’s got to put off some fires

Earlier this month, fans of sports podcasts were left anxious when Better Collective announced layoffs. It’s the parent company of Playmaker HQ that produces podcasts by Shaquille O’Neal, Angel Reese, Udonis Haslem, Marshawn Lynch, and more.

Better Collective operates its sports betting arm in Brazil where regulations about it are undergoing changes. Due to the situation and changing markets, at least a 100 employees were laid off. It’s unclear if the downsizing affecting the podcasting division but fans online were already speculating if Playmaker HQ would have to cut costs in its shows too.

Shaq’s podcast is still going strong as are the others. But he’s also silent about his thoughts about what’s going on at TNT as it’s set to lose the NBA after 2025. There’s no comments about Big Chicken’s alleged setback in Houston either. It remains to be seen how his team navigates the situation.