Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken has opened its first location in Canada in the newly renovated TD Coliseum at Bay St North and York Blvd in Hamilton in southern Ontario. The quick casual restaurant, co-founded in 2018 by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, alongside JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group, is on the street level inside the former Copps Coliseum sports and entertainment arena. Big Chicken specializes in Louisiana-style fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, innovative sides like Cheez-It-crusted mac and cheese, and hand-crafted shakes, each reflecting O’Neal’s personality and stories. Big Chicken has grown rapidly from its first Las Vegas location to about 30 traditional and non-traditional venues across the U.S. and beyond, with significant franchise development underway. Craveworthy Brands became a managing partner, investor, and stakeholder in Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken in March 2025, leveraging Craveworthy’s infrastructure to scale operations and support franchise growth.
Craveworthy Brands, 755 Schneider Dr., South Elgin, Illinois 60177 (www.bigchicken.com)