As with everything he does, Shaquille O’Neal went big with Big Chicken. He launched it in Las Vegas with a reality series in 2018 and by the time he turned it into a franchise business in 2021, he already had a couple of dozen locations in multiple cities. By 2024, Big Chicken has been on a 300+ stores nationwide expansion path. Most of its success was evident in the Texas market, where he opened multiple storefronts in Houston, Austin, Fort Worth, and Lubbock. It was seemingly growing in Arkansas, along with other states too. But as Shaq added more franchises to his fried chicken empire, things quietly went downhill.

According to some local Houstonians, Big Chicken suffered a setback. This comes after some issues hit the Arkansas locations too. Is Shaq’s plans to be a national franchise mogul staggering?

Big Chicken Shaq faces its first closures

In August 2024, Big Chicken was close to opening its first Fort Worth location in Texas. But trouble struck the Arkansas franchises. Three of its restaurants in Northwest Arkansas shuttered that month simultaneously.

According to local reports and social media posts, the restaurants at 2190 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and the Springdale locations at 1120 Mathias Drive and 909 S. Thompson St. had closed signs. They were in business for less than a year.

In 2022, Big Chicken’s parent company, JRS Hospitality formed by Shaquille O’Neal’s longtime associates, partnered with Panhandle Restaurant Group to open more franchises. By 2023, they announced plans to open at least 40 units in Arkansas with married restauranteurs, Chris and Amy McMillan. The owners’ business partners included Ronnie Brewer, current Razorbacks coach, former NBA player, and once Shaq’s opponent.

The Fayetteville store opened in January and the Springdale location in February. Despite the promising start, it was unexpected that all three locations would close within the year. However, the franchisees dismissed concerns about the Big Chicken concept failing.

The McMillans rebranded to their own, “in-house brand” called the ‘C-Macs’ in the same Fayetteville location. So it appears the former Big Chicken franchisees chose a different path and it’s not necessarily a Big Chicken problem. But things took a different turn in Houston.

Big Chicken Shaq’s next setback was too close to home

Texas is special to Shaq. He grew up in San Antonio, loves the Cowboys, has a few residences there, and Big Chicken Muse aka Lucille O’Neal resides here. He opened multiple units in the Lone Star state and his eldest of six, Taahirah O’Neal, was involved in publicity campaigns at these locations. After the Arkansas locations shuttered, Shaq opened the first Fort Worth location with fanfare.

He’d open the next location in Livonia, Michigan, in the exact spot where Guy Fieri’s chicken restaurant closed within a year. There were doubts if O’Neal’s franchise would work there too but it seemed to withstand competition as it thrived in Texas’ competitive fried chicken landscape.

However, a local Houston realtor revealed that one of the Houston locations closed this week. This Westheimer storefront opened in July 2023 just as grandly as the Fort Worth location a year later. Shaquille O’Neal arrived for the grand opening and caused a massive safety issue that the fire marshall had to shut down the festivities. While fans came for Shaq, they returned for the food and business seemed good.

But Big Chicken has not been without its fair share of criticism. Since introducing wings, a few people on social media complained about the size. Others still can’t look past their loyalty to established chains like Chick-fil-A.

As the realtor also confirmed, it’s not easy operating a Big Chicken franchise. It could cost a franchisee up to $1.5 million to open just one store. The Westheimer location was around 3,800 sq. ft. with a bar service and sizable overhead costs.

There’s no official comment from the Big Chicken camp or the franchisees if indeed this restaurant closed for good. It could also be rebranding or relocating. But this doesn’t look like a good sign for the 52-year-old’s brand.