Hixson ‘Big Chicken’ grand opening is a slam dunk

HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hixson has a new hot spot in town. Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken had their grand open Monday morning.

The Big Chicken is based out of Las Vegas and the one in Hixson is the first to open their doors in Tennessee.

People used to line up to watch Shaquille O’Neal dominate in the NBA, but now they are lining up to get a taste of his new Big Chicken restaurant that just opened in Hixson.

“We actually had about 125 people in line before we opened today, and it has not stopped yet. Everybody that we have talked to has just been really super excited about big chicken coming and of course, we are. Our owner, Jim Richards, he’s planning on putting ten of these in Tennessee,” said Chrystal Goodrich, Big Chicken general manager.

The Big Chicken restaurant is rapidly growing. With 18 total locations right now, Tennessee is in the works of having ten new Big Chicken locations in the future, with Hixson starting things off.

“This one has been in the works for a couple of years,” Goodrich said. “Big Chicken is actually only a five-year-old company. It’s out of Las Vegas. Shaquille O’Neal is one of our main people on it. We actually had to go out to Vegas for 18 days and do training out there.”

This isn’t just a celebrity stunt though; Shaq has cooked up something special with the Big Chicken franchise. The popularity is already reaching its full potential with lines wrapped around the building.

“You know, we’ve hired almost a hundred people. So, definitely jobs, our chicken… I’m not just saying this because I work here, but our chicken is really phenomenal chicken. If y’all get a chance, you need to come out and try our chicken,” Goodrich added.

If Hixson is a little out range for you, don’t worry. Big Chicken is coming to Broad Street as well in early April.

But one thing is certain, Shaq put on a slam dunk performance with his new fast-food restaurant.