News broke last month that Big Chicken, the fast casual chicken concept founded by basketball hall-of-famer Shaquille O’Neal, had signed a major franchise deal with longtime Firehouse Subs franchisee Vinnie Alba, involving a total of eight locations in Las Vegas and Henderson. Building permit paperwork filed this week with Clark County reveals the first of these. The permit describes construction work at 9595 Tropicana Ave, with a contract valuation of $175,000.
“I was instantly hooked from the moment I tasted the food at Big Chicken, and from then on, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Alba said in a press release last month, describing his longtime fandom of the chicken chain. “When you think of Shaquille O’Neal, you think big, bold, and fun, and each menu item truly reflects those qualities. Both the local community and thrill-seeking visitors in Las Vegas are vibrant and passionate, and after meeting with the excellent leadership team I’m confident Big Chicken will meet that energy.”
The Big Chicken menu features several takes on the chicken sandwich. These include the Shaq Attack, with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw, and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce; and the Charles Barkley, topped with mac & cheese, crispy fried onions, roasted garlic BBQ aioli. The sandwiches are also available as sliders. Other tasty items like popcorn chicken, chicken tenders, and “Sidekicks” like BC Fries and Lucille’s Mac & Cheese with Cheez-It Crust can be a main event unto themselves. For dessert: a variety of shakes, ice cream sandwiches, and soft-serve cones.
No information is yet available on the timeline for the location’s construction and opening. Stay tuned for updates as more Big Chicken news emerges.
