83.9 F
San Fernando
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Shaq to Bring Big Chicken To Glendale

Fast-casual fried chicken concept Big Chicken is coming to Glendale, bringing with it the outsized personality of its founder, former NBA star and TV pitchman Shaquille O’Neal. The chain’s second retail location will fill the vacancy at 252 South Brand St., a Caruso-owned property across the street from Americana at Brand and a stone’s throw from the Glendale Galleria. It will open before the end of the year in conjunction with the holiday shopping season. Lakers legend O’Neal teamed up with restaurant operator JRS Hospitality, which also runs his restaurant “Shaquille’s” at L.A. Live, to establish the chain. After testing the concept and sharpening the menu at its debut location in Las Vegas for a year, O’Neal and the managing partners at JRS felt the time was right to expand. “We’re planning on doing a few strategic markets, L.A. being one of them. It’s close to us here in Vegas, and obviously Shaquille has a great following there. We will do a few more locations in Southern California,” said Matthew Silverman, chef and partner at JRS Hospitality. Silverman said Brand Street was attractive because of the foot traffic brought in by the malls and the lack of chicken-first dining options in the area. Big Chicken’s neighbors there will be Shake Shack and Eggslut. Of course, chicken’s stock is soaring on the heels of the viral “chicken sandwich wars” between fast food chains Popeye’s and Chick-Fil-A. And while Silverman conceded fledgling Big Chicken is hardly a competitor to the chains, he called the sandwich buzz “an affirmation that we’re on the right track.” He also said food quality adds a degree of separation between Big Chicken and fast food chicken spots. “It’s like Shake Shack to McDonald’s,” he said. “Our product will speak for itself.” Following Big Chicken’s opening in Glendale, the company will prepare to hit the high seas. A partnership with Carnival Cruise Line will put Big Chicken outlets on two ships next year — the Radiance and the Mardi Gras — with more to come, according to Silverman. “Eventually, we’ll probably license or franchise the model out to people to run it around the country,” he said.

Featured Articles

Related Articles