Shaq’s Big Chicken coming to Century Farms in Antioch
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken is coming to Music City. The restaurant founded by the basketball legend and entrepreneur will open its first Middle Tennessee location at the Century Farms development in Antioch.
The lease was signed Thursday for the location at 2141 Cane Ridge Road. The chain’s expansion into Middle Tennessee is courtesy of restauranteur Jim Richards, who is the driving force behind Big Chicken’s Tennessee takeover, according to a release.
Giant cicadas create a buzz around Franklin home
“We couldn’t be more ecstatic about coming to the Nashville area. Our ties run deep in the area, having owned and operated several restaurants locally. I’ve been talking to my friends and colleagues locally, and they are buzzing about Shaquille and the brand’s incredible menu that he developed,” said Richards, who has run more than a dozen Five Guys restaurants across Tennessee and North Georgia with partners Brion Voges and Andrew Gardner in the popular Fiamma Pizza Company. “We are extremely familiar with the vibe of Antioch and Big Chicken will be a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. Our guests will love the bold flavors and vibrant atmosphere.”
Richards plans to open another six Big Chicken locations across Tennessee in cities like Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. Richards and his partners have previously opened two locations in the Chattanooga area.
Century Farms land continues to spur growth in Antioch
“In every conversation we’ve had, Jim has been clear about the strength of the brand’s potential in Nashville. I am thrilled to have worked closely with him to make this happen at a fantastic locale in the market,” said Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken. “Over the past several years, the entire area has been on a growth trajectory not unlike our own, but it’s only fitting that Jim and his team have chosen one of the fastest-growing parts of the Nashville Metro Area to develop their first restaurant.”
Big Chicken has 350 locations in development worldwide. The restaurant combines O’Neal’s home cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors.
The Nashville location will include The Original Big Chicken sandwich (Big Chicken Sauce and pickles), Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot (Nashville Hot Chicken, lettuce, mayo and pickles), The Ultimate (mac & cheese, crispy fried onions and roasted garlic BBQ aioli) along with the crispy crinkle cut fries and delicious ice cream milkshakes, according to a release.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
