---
title: "Shaquille O’Neal-Owned Big Chicken Gears Up for Gilbert Opening"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/23f6ef61-0787-4289-9a9d-f33b522979ab
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230314_shaquille_onealowned_big_chicken_gears_up_for_gilbert_opening.html
category: "Chicken"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Chicken"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2023-03-14T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T20:35:09.610Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561758033-d89a9ad46330?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Shaquille O’Neal-Owned Big Chicken Gears Up for Gilbert Opening

**TL;DR:** Shaquille O’Neal-owned Big Chicken is opening a location in Gilbert, Arizona, as part of a 12-unit agreement with franchisees Steve Christensen and Reid Richards. The Gilbert location is the second Big Chicken in Arizona, following the first at Arizona State University's Mullett Arena.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-03-14. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230314_shaquille_onealowned_big_chicken_gears_up_for_gilbert_opening.html).*

## Story

The anticipated opening in Gilbert is the first to debut in a 12-unit agreement with Arizona-based restaurant ownership team and existing Big Chicken franchisees, Steve Christensen and Reid Richards. Situated at 366 N Gilbert Rd., Big Chicken’s menu offerings will include famed chicken sandwiches like the Big & Sloppy, Uncle Jerome and Shaq Attack, as well as classic fan favorites like crispy tenders, popcorn chicken and Lucille’s Mac N’ Cheese.

“We’ve been counting down the days in anticipation for our debut in Gilbert,” said Christensen.

With more than 13 years of successful partnership behind them, Christensen and Richards will bring their extensive experience in restaurant ownership and operations to open more Big Chicken locations. Together, the talented duo will leverage their restaurant management expertise and skill set in business development to establish Big Chicken’s presence in Gilbert.

Big Chicken in Gilbert is the second location to open in Arizona, with the first location currently serving athletes, fans, concert goers and more at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Mullett Arena.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- restaurant opening (topic)
- franchise agreement (topic)
- Big Chicken (company)
- Shaquille O'Neal (person)
- Gilbert (location)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230314_shaquille_onealowned_big_chicken_gears_up_for_gilbert_opening.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/23f6ef61-0787-4289-9a9d-f33b522979ab).