Franchising

Big Chicken takes on Chicago

provided

January 25, 2022

Big Chicken, founded by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, is opening in Chicago thanks to a deal with entrepreneur Ken Patel, according to a company press release.

"I know what it takes to make it in Chicago, and Big Chicken is built to thrive in this market," said Patel, who previously owned eight 7-Eleven convenience stores throughout Chicagoland. "I looked at the concept from every which way, and the brand hits on all of the important factors…taste profile, menu innovation, marketing, operations, franchisor support and a strong real estate strategy. I was blown away the first time I visited Big Chicken. As a business owner, I know the importance of providing an unrivaled experience, so I'm confident Big Chicken will quickly become one of Chicagoland's most craveable restaurant spots."

With existing locations open in Los Angeles Metro, Las Vegas, two Carnival Cruise ships, in Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena and at New York's UBS Arena, the Big Chicken franchise opportunity is tailored for skilled owner/operator groups like Patel, CEO Josh Halpern said in the release. The franchise investment has been designed to align with successful, multi-unit investors who want to become part of Shaquille's dream team.

"Ken has an extremely impressive background and his know-how in running great businesses is fantastic," Halpern said. "We've hit it off with him and can see him and his location becoming a staple of the Chicagoland restaurant landscape. He is exactly the kind of franchisee we want growing the brand with us," said Halpern, the architect of the brand's growth strategy. "We have an aggressive growth strategy targeting high-profile U.S. regions and you can't find a better market than Chicagoland to make our Midwest debut and give The Windy City a taste of Shaquille's homegrown recipes."