The realm of fast casual is about to get a slam dunk in flavor as Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken sets its sights on Nashville. The former NBA star's chicken-centric eatery has inked a lease at 2141 Cane Ridge Road within the burgeoning Century Farms development in Antioch. This move, reported by WKRN, marks the first Middle Tennessee location for the chain and is part of an expansion plan steered by restaurateur Jim Richards.

Richards, who's been a driving force behind more than a dozen Five Guys outlets across Tennessee and North Georgia, is not a stranger to the local dining landscape. "We couldn’t be more ecstatic about coming to the Nashville area," he mentioned in a statement obtained by FOX 17. With plans to further expand with six more locations across Tennessee, including Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga, Big Chicken's Tennessee presence is only expected to grow. Two additional outposts have already opened their doors in the Chattanooga area.

The selection of Antioch for Big Chicken's Nashville debut was deliberate, focusing on the fast growth of the area. Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, expressed his enthusiasm for the site, "In every conversation we’ve had, Jim has been clear about the strength of the brand’s potential in Nashville," he told AOL. "I am thrilled to have worked closely with him to make this happen at a fantastic locale in the market."

As for the menu, customers can anticipate a reflected fusion of O'Neal’s childhood favorites and contemporary tastes. Staples like The Original Big Chicken sandwich, Uncle Jerome's Nashville Hot, and The Ultimate will share the spotlight with crinkle cut fries and shakes. Century Farms, an up-and-coming hotspot in Nashville, is poised to complement the energetic atmosphere that Big Chicken promises to bring. Already the development is home to Tanger Outlets, which opened last October, and other major food chains like In-N-Out Burger and Chick-fil-A, according to details released by AOL.