Shaq’s Big Chicken has quietly pulled back across Texas, closing most of its restaurants in the state, and the North Fort Worth storefront is among the latest to go dark. The retrenchment trims what had once been an ambitious expansion and leaves only a handful of outposts in the Lone Star State.
Fort Worth Storefront Hits the Market After Quiet Shutdown
The Big Chicken at 9749 North Freeway, which opened in late 2024, is now listed as permanently closed and the space is being marketed for lease, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. That report notes the block also includes a Phoenix Pho Vietnamese drive-thru at 9771 North Freeway and says plans for a new tenant are still in the works.
More Texas Locations Quietly Go Dark
Houston-area Big Chicken restaurants were quietly removed from company listings earlier this year, and other Texas units in Richmond and Lubbock have also closed, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The Chronicle noted that company listings now appear to show only a Lubbock shop and a Moody Center concession in Austin, and that Big Chicken did not respond to requests for comment.
What Big Chicken Served and Where It Still Shows Up
Big Chicken’s menu centers on chicken sandwiches, tenders, hand-spun shakes and classic Southern sides, as shown on the brand’s website, Big Chicken. The chain’s listings still show a Moody Center concession in Austin, even as storefront addresses in other Texas cities disappear.
What Could Be Next for the Fort Worth Site
Local lease postings indicate landlords are marketing 9749 North Freeway to new restaurant tenants, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
