Shaquille O’Neal must have a heart as big as Texas. The Big Aristotle owns two plush homes in the Lone Star State, both bought post the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, just last year, he launched his Big Chicken chain franchise in North Texas. In a few days, he is set to open yet another restaurant in the state. This time in Lubbock. Like most other Big Chicken locations, the new one will continue the tradition of free meals to entice customers.

The Shaq-backed restaurant will be run by Lubbock native Coby Jones. This will be his first Big Chicken location. Jones began his career in 1989 and currently has around 12 locations in Lubbock. Situated at 7411 Milwaukee Ave, across from The Hub Shopping Center, the restaurant will celebrate its opening with a special offer. The first 34 customers will receive free meals, limited to $10 per week for a year. The number 34 is a nod to O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey number.

“We first met Coby at an early inflection point in Big Chicken’s growth journey, and I was immediately impressed with his desire to partner with us to make this concept as strong as possible,” Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern said peaking of the collaboration with Jones, as per KCBD News Channel. He added, “He’s been a fantastic partner to us so far, and we’re thankful to have him as an extension of Shaquille’s family business in Lubbock.” 

Since opening the first Big Chicken location in Las Vegas in 2018, O’Neal has continued to expand his presence across the nation, with a goal of launching 300 more establishments. He currently has 18 locations. So, it makes sense for the Los Angeles Lakers legend to invest in another property in Texas after buying a home there recently.

Did Shaquille O’Neal buy a new house in Texas?

Shaq has previously mentioned the importance of Dallas for his business travels. “Dallas is my midway point when I have to go do business on the West Coast,” O’Neal once said. The 52-year-old already owns a home in Collin County. He purchased it in 2022. 

Earlier this year, he acquired another property in Rockwall County. This new residence spans 4,670 square feet and was bought for $1.7 million. But the 4x NBA champion’s ventures aren’t limited to real estate and Big Chicken.

He recently partnered with Hershey’s to launch a new line of gummies called Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies. Featuring Shaq’s face, the gummies will be available in various delectable flavors, such as pineapple, watermelon, mixed berry, berry punch, peach, and more. These candies will be exclusively available at Walmart, as one would expect from the Big Aristotle.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.