Skip to content
Home
>
Business
>
Shaq bringing Big Chicken to...

Shaq bringing Big Chicken to Hattiesburg

By: Frank Corder - March 6, 2024

(Photo from Big Chicken website)

  • The company is growing rapidly, with over 30 locations planned in 16 states as well as being featured on Carnival Cruise Lines.

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken fast food restaurant chain is coming to Hattiesburg. It will be the franchise’s first location in Mississippi.

(Photo from SRS Real Estate Partners)

SRS Real Estate Partners out of Birmingham, Alabama said Tuesday that Big Chicken was purchasing ±1.44 acres of land along Highway 98 in Hattiesburg between Wal-Mart and Lowe’s.

Founded in 2018, Big Chicken is backed by partners JRS Hospitality, Authentic Brands Group, and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal.

According to their website, Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors.

“From crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to Cheez-It® crusted mac n’ cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes, each menu item tells a story all while offering guests an inside look into the life and personality of Shaquille O’Neal,” the company says.

The company is growing rapidly, with over 30 locations planned in 16 states as well as being featured on Carnival Cruise Lines.

No date has been announced for construction or prospective opening as of yet.

About the Author(s)
author profile image

Frank Corder

For nearly two decades, Frank Corder has reported and offered analysis on government, public policy, elections, business and matters of faith. He is the Editor for Magnolia Tribune where he oversees the day-to-day content development. Frank’s interviews, articles, and columns have been syndicated throughout Mississippi as well as in various national publications. His resume includes appearances on the BBC, CBS News, ABC News, and Fox News, among others. Frank is a frequent analyst on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State and beyond. During his career, Frank has interviewed government officials and candidates from City Halls to the White House, including Presidential candidates, White House officials, U.S. Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Secretaries, and Governors. He previously hosted his own local radio and television programs and has managed private businesses in the financial, hospitality, and retail sectors. Frank has served his community as an elected City Councilman and as an Assistant/Acting City Manager. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he led the effort to plan Pascagoula's recovery and rebuilding which earned him recognition as Mississippi's Volunteer of the Year. Frank also led Pascagoula's municipal government out of a $14.5 million deficit, which the Mississippi State Auditor heralded as a model for other communities facing dire financial straits. As the president of the Pascagoula High School Quarterback Club, Frank has self-published "The Book of Pascagoula Football." He has been married for over 25 years and has two children, both of whom work in public education. Email Frank: frank@magnoliatribune.com