Popular fast-food chain closes a location in Las Vegas

The fast-food chicken sandwich war did not begin in the new millennium, but, instead, had its roots dating back to 1979 with the launch of Burger King's Chicken Specialty Sandwich, which is now known as the Original Chicken Sandwich. Burger King even had a two-for-one offer of two sandwiches for ...

Nov 2, 2025 - 13:00

Popular fast-food chain closes a location in Las Vegas

The fast-food chicken sandwich war did not begin in the new millennium, but, instead, had its roots dating back to 1979 with the launch of Burger King's Chicken Specialty Sandwich, which is now known as the Original Chicken Sandwich.

Burger King even had a two-for-one offer of two sandwiches for $1.59 back in those days, according to a vintage advertisement featured in Burger Beast.

The King's success prompted an answer from McDonald's, as it launched its McChicken sandwich in 1980, which failed and was replaced by the popular Chicken Nuggets in 1981 in select markets and then rolled out nationally in 1983.

Wendy's steps up as McChicken sandwich fails

As McDonald's McChicken was failing, Wendy's took advantage of the chicken sandwich void with its chicken sandwich launch in the mid-1980s, which featured its legendary, humorous 1984 "Parts Is Parts" television commercial promoting its boneless chicken breast sandwiches and criticizing its competitors' products, 80sretroblast recalls on Instagram.

McDonald's success with Chicken Nuggets, however, led to a relaunch of the McChicken Sandwich in 1988.

Burger King brought out its Chicken Nuggets in 1985 after introducing its long breaded chicken sandwich. Carl’s Jr. and Hardees offered their version of chicken nuggets, Chicken Stars, as well as hand-breaded chicken sandwiches and charbroiled chicken sandwiches. Wendy’s has its chicken nuggets and also reintroduced spicy nuggets in 2019.

Popeyes leads the chicken sandwich war in 2019

And that was the year when the chicken sandwich war intensified with Popeyes' launch of its new chicken sandwich as an answer to the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, whose popularity had risen exponentially in recent years as the fast-food chain had expanded since its 1967 launch.

Popeyes' chicken sandwich was so popular in 2019 that the chain's locations dealt with long lines of customers seeking to buy the product, only to learn that locations were sold out of the product after running out of ingredients to make the sandwiches.

Legendary NBA star Shaquille O'Neal's love of chicken prompted him to join the chicken sandwich war and launch his chicken sandwich chain Big Chicken in 2018.

*Big Chicken is closing one of its Las Vegas locations.*
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line

Shaq's Big Chicken closes Las Vegas location

Unfortunately, the chain has closed its location at 9595 West Tropicana in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

The fast-food chain's Vegas location, which opened in January 2023, is listed as closed on Yelp, and its location has been removed from the Big Chicken website.

Big Chicken original Vegas flagship still open

The chicken sandwich chain's original flagship location is still open in Las Vegas at 4480 Paradise Road, Suite 1200, according to the company's website.

Big Chicken currently operates 35 locations, with 30 in 17 U.S. states, four on Carnival Cruise Line ships, and one in Manchester, England.

Despite the closing of the Las Vegas location, Big Chicken is in expansion mode with five new restaurant locations set to open soon across the nation in Arlington Heights, Ill.; Gambrills, Md.; Beverly, Mass.; Wrentham, Mass.; and State College, Pa., according to its website.

Shaq's Big Chicken opening new locations

Arlington Heights, Ill.
Gambrills, Md.
Beverly, Mass.
Wrentham, Mass.
State College, Pa.

The company is also seeking franchisees for the remaining 33 U.S. states, according to its website.

More closings:

Major trucking company closes Home Depot distribution facility
63-year-old bankrupt retail chain closes all stores permanently
Discount retail chain closes half its store locations

Shaq's restaurants serve six different crispy chicken sandwiches, a grilled chicken Philly Fadeaway, five chicken tender Shaq Snacks offerings, chicken tenders, chicken dunks, salads, various side dishes, kids meals, and six different shakes.

The Las Vegas-based chicken sandwich chain is backed by JRS Hospitality, Authentic Brands, Craveworthy Brands, and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal.