- Big Chicken quietly closed its Tropicana Avenue Las Vegas location less than three years after opening, leaving only the flagship on Paradise Road.
- Despite several closures, the chain plans rapid expansion — projecting dozens of openings through 2027 and eyeing 272 locations by decade’s end.
LAS VEGAS — The neon lights of the Strip might never dim, but one corner of the valley just got a little less crispy. Big Chicken, the fast-casual chain backed by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, has quietly closed its location at 9595 West Tropicana Avenue, less than three years after it swung open its doors in January 2023.
Word of the shutdown first bubbled up on the Las Vegas Food Facebook page late last week, and sure enough, the spot has vanished from Yelp reviews and the official Big Chicken website, which now points hungry fans solely to the flagship store at 4480 Paradise Road — the one that kicked off the whole operation back in October 2018 with celebrities strutting an orange carpet.
That original joint, tucked near the Virgin Hotel (now rebranded), is still slinging signatures like the Shaq Attack — pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw, and a kick of spicy chipotle barbecue — and the Pit Boss, piled high with barbecue sauce and cheese curds.
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No official word from Shaq or the team on why the Tropicana outpost folded. The chain hasn’t cited slow sales, lease drama, or any of the usual suspects that plague Vegas eateries.
But in a town where foot traffic can make or break you, the southwest valley spot might have struggled to draw the crowds that flock to the Paradise Road original, especially with competition from heavy hitters like Popeyes and Chick-fil-A still waging their endless chicken sandwich skirmish.
Big Chicken’s Next Plans
This isn’t the first hiccup for Big Chicken. Fans have spotted shutters elsewhere: a Valencia, California, location bit the dust earlier this year, with locals speculating it couldn’t cover the bills.
A Northshore Mall spot in Massachusetts got the axe in September after just over a year, with operators telling callers it was “currently closed and not likely to reopen.”
Chattanooga’s Hixson Pike branch closed in March, though the Broad Street one soldiers on.
Even a Texas outpost that racked up nearly $1 million in operating costs shut down by November 2024 after a chaotic grand opening that had to be cut short for safety reasons.
Yet for every door that closes, Big Chicken seems to pry open a couple more. The chain wrapped 2024 with around 46 locations — 24 traditional spots, 19 in arenas or cruise ships, plus outliers in airports and even a Naval base.
They’re projecting 26 openings in 2025 alone, climbing to 42 in 2027 and pushing toward 272 by the end of the decade.
Fresh ink includes a standalone debut in Gambrills, Maryland, this past June, and more on deck in Arlington Heights, Illinois; Beverly and Wrentham, Massachusetts; and State College, Pennsylvania — timed perfectly for Penn State students craving Cheez-It-crusted mac ‘n’ cheese.
Shaq launched Big Chicken in 2018 with JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group, later bringing Craveworthy Brands aboard as a managing partner in March to handle everything from supply chains to training.
The menu pulls from O’Neal’s childhood favorites: six crispy sandwiches, grilled Philly Fadeaways, tenders dubbed Shaq Snacks, salads, and shakes thick enough to stand a spoon in. It’s all backed by cage-free chicken and a vibe that’s pure Shaq — items named for nicknames like Superman or tributes to his Uncle Jerome.
What Happens Next?
As of now, Big Chicken dots 17 states, four Carnival cruise ships, and even Manchester, England. Franchisees are being courted for the remaining 33 states, with a pipeline boasting over 350 commitments.
CEO Josh Halpern has called the growth “authentic,” echoing Shaq’s refusal to slap his name on just any endorsement deal.
The chicken wars rage on — remember Popeyes selling out nationwide in 2019? — but Big Chicken’s story feels more like a veteran big man posting up in the paint: a few bruises, sure, but still dominating the boards and eyeing the horizon.
Vegas locals mourning the Tropicana closure can always hit Paradise Road. And who knows? Shaq might just dunk on the doubters with the next batch of openings.
Also Read: A Massive Convenience Store Now Closes 500 Stores
