Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken has opened at the River Oaks Shopping Center in Valencia, California, marking its second franchised location in the country. The restaurant also becomes the second location in L.A. County, joining one of the brand’s original locations that opened in 2018 in Glendale.
“We’re thrilled for the opening of our first location with Big Chicken,” Andy Gitipityapon, co-owner of Big Chicken in Valencia, said in a company press release. “My wife and I first discovered the brand a few years ago in Las Vegas and fell in love with the food. I knew I wanted to be a part of its expansion, and after meeting with the corporate team and learning more about the team supporting the brand, I was sold. As a longtime Lakers fan, Shaquille’s involvement was the icing on the cake.”
This is the first location for Gitipityapon and his business partner, David Allen. In addition to Gitipityapon’s experience in the restaurant industry, Allen is the owner and founder of a concierge nutrition and alternative medicine company, David Allen Nutrition, and has a 15-year background in the quick service restaurant space.
“Andy and David have had a lot of success in their own respective careers and also share our passion for Big Chicken,” Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern said in the release. “It was a no-brainer to share with them the opportunity to bring this new location to Valencia. We know they’re eager to get the ball rolling and bring Big Chicken’s incredible menu and BIG atmosphere to the community.”
Aside from the Valencia location, Big Chicken has restaurants in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and in the Dayton, Ohio region, as well as Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, metro-New York’s UBS Arena, The Moody Center in Austin and on two Carnival Cruise ships.
