Is Shaquille O’Neal’s chicken chain still coming to Columbus?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The chicken chain founded by Hall of Fame basketball star Shaquille O’Neal has yet to deliver on plans announced in 2023 to open several dozen Ohio locations.

Big Chicken, a fast-casual chain created by O’Neal in 2018, said in April 2023 it would expand with 36 more eateries across the Buckeye State, beginning with locations in Columbus. However, nearly 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 2023 NBC4 report on Big Chicken in the video player above.

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Josh Halpern, the brand’s CEO, said in a statement to NBC4, “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.”

The brand’s future Ohio locations could be accelerated by Craveworthy Brands, the parent company of the Columbus-founded chain Hot Chicken Takeover who 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.
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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. Since then, Budlong and Hot Chicken Takeover have merged to create a refreshed brand called “HCT: Southern Chicken,” although the chain remains to be branded as Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus.

Big Chicken is joining 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 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.

The menu boasts chicken tenders and wings, and a romaine salad with bacon, tomatoes, fried onions, mixed cheese and ranch. Sides include crinkle-cut fries, jalapeno slaw and “Dirty Fries” with cheese sauce, bacon, banana peppers and chipotle barbeque sauce.
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Milkshakes are also available, with flavors like salted caramel, peanut butter chip, cookies and cream, and strawberry. A brownie can be ordered, along with several side sauces, like “Carolina Mustard” and “Memphis” barbeque sauces.

Craveworthy said Big Chicken has more than 40 locations in states including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Nevada, Texas, Tennessee and Washington, along with eateries on three Carnival cruise ships. With “more than 350 in development, Big Chicken continues to grow globally, bringing its signature bold flavors and Shaq-sized personality to guests everywhere,” the company said.