Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken seeking 'right locations' for delayed Ohio expansion
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The chicken chain founded by Hall of Fame basketball star Shaquille O'Neal says it's still "seeking the right locations" for its Ohio expansion that was announced several years ago.
Big Chicken, a fast-casual chain created by O'Neal in 2018, said in April 2023 it would expand with 36 eateries across the Buckeye State, beginning with locations in Columbus. However, more than two years later, Big Chicken's first Ohio restaurant that opened in 2022 near Dayton remains to be the chain's only location in the state. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Big Chicken's Ohio plans in the video player above.
Josh Halpern, the brand's CEO, said in a statement to NBC4 in March that "the franchisee did not follow his build-out schedule," and "we are looking at several options and opportunities to open restaurants in the greater Columbus area, and we will be able to comment more specifically in the next two to three months."
NBC4 requested another update earlier this month. A spokesperson said, "While we don't have any additional details to share at this time, we're incredibly grateful for the continued interest and excitement around Big Chicken coming to Columbus," and that the "team is actively seeking the right locations and aspiring, qualified franchise partners who can help bring the brand to life for residents when the time is right."
O'Neal's chain is still aiming to mount an Ohio expansion while finding success in another U.S. markets. Big Chicken is boasted as one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country with more than 350 locations in development.
The brand's growth comes after Craveworthy Brands, the parent company of the Columbus-founded Hot Chicken Takeover, announced in early March it will become a managing partner of Big Chicken. The announcement said Halpern would continue overseeing the brand, working alongside Craveworthy founder Gregg Majewski, who is also the former CEO of Jimmy Johns.
"This one-of-a-kind opportunity truly embodies the mission behind why I founded Craveworthy -- to build a full-stack platform that aligns with top brands like Big Chicken and infuses broad-reaching support through proven systems and support to thrive in the evolving restaurant industry," said Majewski in a release.
Craveworthy acquired Hot Chicken Takeover in May last year, then announced plans to fold a Chicago-based chicken concept named Budlong into Hot Chicken Takeover.
However, Craveworthy has since shuttered nearly all of Hot Chicken Takeover's locations. The company closed the Gahanna and Grandview eateries this month, then shut down the Westerville restaurant less than a week later. The North Market location stands as the last Hot Chicken Takeover, though the market's executive director told NBC4 that the location's fate "doesn't look good" given he hasn't heard from Craveworthy in months.
Big Chicken joins Craveworthy's portfolio of more than a dozen brands, including BD's Mongolian Grill, Dirty Dough, Flat Top Grill, Genghis Grill, and Taim Mediterranean Kitchen. Craveworthy said it at the time that it will aid Big Chicken by providing expertise across key functions such as operations, training, supply chain management, culinary development and customer service.
O'Neal's brand is inspired by home-cooked childhood favorites, including "The Ultimate" chicken sandwich with mac and cheese, fried onions and roasted garlic barbeque aioli. The "Shaq Attack" sandwich is also on the menu with pepper jack cheese, jalapeno slaw and spicy chipotle barbeque sauce.