Big Chicken's Ultimate burger consists of mac & cheese, crispy fried onions, roasted garlic BBQ aioli. (Contributed Photo)

Big Chicken, a fast-casual chicken concept founded by Shaquille O’Neal, is coming to Tyler.

The restaurant announced Thursday it has signed a six-unit development agreement with experienced restaurant operator Jason Ratlif, who is excited to be part of the ongoing economic transformation happening from Tyler and upper East Texas to Monroe, Louisiana.

“Beyond the backing by Shaquille O’Neal, Big Chicken brings big flavors that are truly unique,” Ratlif said. “After encountering Big Chicken on a Carnival Cruise, I knew that I needed to bring the brand to my community.”

Ratlif said the decision to introduce this concept and the ‘big fun’ behind everything it does from Monroe to Tyler was easy.

“My partners and I are thrilled to be a part of the brand’s expansion, especially given that we have strong ties in the area,” he said. “The first step in our multi-unit journey is to secure premium real estate in Eastern Monroe.”

The group plans to draw upon their skill sets and expertise for their restaurants, with each owner bringing their own unique experiences to the table.

With Ratlif’s experience managing winning teams, the locations are poised to shape Big Chicken into a focal point for local communities across their territory and become a standout representation of the brand.

“Jason is joining the Big Chicken family at a unique inflection point in our growth. He has incredible instincts for operations and has proven that he knows how to build winning teams and successful restaurants,” said CEO Josh Halpern. “It worked out perfectly that he was looking to fill the white space that we had in East Texas and Northern Louisiana. The region is on the brink of BIG things and we can’t wait to be a part of them.”

The newest franchise agreement in Louisiana and Texas will add to the 350-plus locations in development nationwide for the brand. Big Chicken currently has traditional locations open in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee and Washington.

The franchise also had non-traditional venues like metro-New York’s UBS Arena, The Comcast Center in Philadelphia, The Moody Center in Austin, ASU’s Mullett Arena, the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Palm Springs’ Acrisure Arena, St. Louis’s Busch Stadium, Kansas City International Airport, IMG Academy and on four Carnival Cruise ships.

Along with O’Neal, the championship pedigree behind Big Chicken includes a pair of powerful ownership group partners, including:

Authentic Brands (ABG)

• , a brand development, marketing and entertainment company, which owns a portfolio of iconic and world-renowned brands including Sports Illustrated, Elvis Presley and Reebok.

JRS Hospitality, Las Vegas’ leading restaurant group with a reputation for hosting top tier parties, private dining and corporate gatherings at its iconic venues such as Cabo Wabo, Alexxa’s, and Beer Park.

Founded in 2018, Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors, fcrispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to Cheez-It-crusted mac n’ cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes. O’Neal is one of the world’s most successful athlete-turned-businessmen, whose accomplishments both on and off the court have translated into a highly sought-after consumer brand. As an entrepreneur, sports analyst, DJ, restaurateur, and brand ambassador, O’Neal’s signature “Business of Fun” mantra resonates throughout each of his countless endeavors.

The 15-time NBA All-Star’s unprecedented athletic career spanned nearly two decades and earned him countless awards and honors, including NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Rookie of the Year, four NBA Championships and a First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer. Currently, O’Neal is an analyst on TNT’s Emmy Award-winning “Inside the NBA.”

O’Neal, who has a PhD in Leadership and Education, established The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation which provides resources for underserved youth. He also gives back through a number of annual philanthropic programs including Shaq to School, Shaqsgiving, and Shaq a Claus.

The launch of his Las Vegas eatery Big Chicken has further elevated O’Neal’s status as he has positioned himself as a successful restaurateur.