Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken Carson City grand opening celebration happening Saturday
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 01/11/2024 - 1:45pm
Anticipation for Saturday's Big Chicken grand opening in Carson City came with a "soft opening" Wednesday bringing a hungry lunch crowd to check out the popular chicken chain restaurant founded by retired NBA basketball great Shaquille O'Neal.
The restaurant and bar, located at the former Tito's, 444 East William Street in Carson City across from Smith's grocery store, is open for business daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The soft opening days are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with this Saturday, Jan. 13 being the grand opening.
Owner Damon Kreizenbeck said Wednesday's soft opening filled the dining room twice with curious, hungry lunch time patrons, with at least 30 lined up at the door just before opening.
"It's a great day, we're very happy," said Kreizenbeck of the first day soft opening lunch turnout.
He was joined by Anthony Kingsland, chief operating officer as well as manager Barbara McGarvey, who has been at their side, also managing Firehouse Subs in Carson City since 2015, also owned by Kreizenbeck.
For those wondering is Shaq will make an appearance, he won't be able to make it for the grand opening but likely will visit this summer after NBA basketball, in which he does analysis on TNT's Inside the NBA.
The level of positivity and professionalism that Shaquille O'Neal is known for is brought to the table of Big Chicken. The Carson City restaurant has 50 part-time and full-time employees and continues to hire. The 4,408 square-foot restaurant features seating for 148 people and an overall capacity of 175.
Big Chicken is currently hiring for more employees, you can apply by following this link.
What will hungry patrons expect coming in? A relaxed atmosphere, comfortable seating, flat screened TVs and a menu inspired by O'Neal's family recipes, mastered by chefs who have perfected the offerings at the corporate restaurant kitchens in Las Vegas.
The menu offers a variety of crispy chicken sandwiches, (and grilled chicken sandwiches upon request) served on a brioche bun. They come with sauces such as Carolina mustard, Buffalo Hot, Sweet and Smokey Memphis BBQ, Spicy Chipotle BBQ and the Big Chicken Sauce.
The restaurant also features popcorn chicken, that, as Kreizenbeck explains, are not small like what other restaurants offer but quite large and filling. There's also chicken tenders, side orders of BC fries, "dirty" fries, sweet potato waffle fries, a jalapeño slaw with smoke vinaigrette and cilantro, and the popular and O'Neal favorite, Lucille's Mac N' Cheese, with a Cheez-It crust, which is what Shaquille's mother would make for the family while growing up.
The restaurant also offers a choice of crispy or grilled chicken salads, shakes, sundaes, kid's meals and more. There's also a full bar with flat screened TVs for sports viewing. The bar will soon be equipped with 10 gaming machines.
The Carson City restaurant will be joined in mid 2024 with the opening of a Minden location near the Highway 395 and Highway 88 intersection.
