Shaq's chicken chain closes most Texas stores, including one in Fort Worth

Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken in north Fort Worth has permanently closed its doors after nearly two years.

Big Chicken is a restaurant franchise chain from the NBA legend that opened a north Fort Worth store in late 2024. The store at 9749 North Freeway has been closed for months now, but a lease posting confirmed to curious customers that the doors have closed for good.

The chain also had Texas locations in Lubbock, Richmond and Houston that all also closed earlier this year. The last Big Chicken restaurant in Texas is in Austin, and it is still open.

As of this writing, Big Chicken has not responded to Star-Telegram inquiries about the reason for closure.

Fort Worth Facebook users speculate that chicken is a hard market, as there is a wealth of fried chicken places to choose from. Within Alliance alone, there is Dave’s Hot Chicken, Pollo Campero, Babe’s Chicken and Chick-fil-A.

The Big Chicken chain sells chicken sandwiches, tenders and shakes. Sandwiches have decadent toppings like onion rings or mac and cheese. The “Shaq Snacks” are chicken tender sandwiches made with Texas garlic toast. Classic southern sides like crinkle cut fries, onion rings, cheese curds and coleslaw are also available.

Multiple Facebook comments noted that the menu did not compete with competitors and the chicken “wasn’t that good.”

The next tenant for the North Freeway space is still in the works. Phoenix Pho Vietnamese drive-thru just opened in the same block at 9771 North Freeway.