HOUSTON—Big Chicken, founded in 2018 by Shaquille O’Neal, is entering the four largest Texas markets—Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin—through a multi-unit development agreement. Fazil Malik and Frank Malik, the pair behind convenience-store operator Northwest Petroleum (NWP), are part of the team bringing the NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur’s restaurant franchise to the new markets, along with Skylark Construction, a Houston-based company that specializes in retail developments, gas stations, convenience stores, quick-service and sit-down restaurants.
The other partner in the franchise group is Noordin Jhaver, CEO of Dew Real Estate Holdings LLC, an Austin, Texas-based real estate ownership company focusing in the retail and restaurant space and owner/operator of more than 50 Sonic restaurants.
Fazil Malik and Frank Malik, who are not related, and Jhaver have known each other since their first roles in the convenience and restaurant industries nearly 30 years ago, Big Chicken said. Opening 50 Big Chickens in Texas is their first joint venture.
Fazil Malik, president and CEO, launched Houston-based NWP in 1991 and has grown the company’s portfolio to more than 60 c-stores and gas stations under the Shell, Phillips 66 and 7-Eleven brands. He also has franchise investments in Burger King and Denny’s. Frank Malik, senior vice president, oversees all development and construction design for the company, managing more than $200 million in projects.
“Big Chicken is exactly the kind of brand that succeeds in Texas: pioneering and bold yet rooted in delicious tradition,” said Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. “Our restaurant industry’s rich diversity is our greatest strength.”
Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, added, “It’s amazing that Noordin, Fazil and Frank have chosen their first joint venture together to be with Big Chicken. They have been incredibly impressive and successful, and after several conversations and meetings with our team, it was clear that this was a perfect fit. As we grow our franchise community, we are privileged that talented, multi-unit operators with this level of experience across multiple business verticals want to join our team.”
Jhaver started his entrepreneurial career in the c-store and truckstop industry in 1986, and he began his restaurant ownership and operations in 2002, according to Big Chicken.
“Big Chicken wouldn’t be growing like it is without the team behind it,” O’Neal said. “My team has done a fantastic job making sure we’re growing in the right way, with the right people.”
In addition to the agreement with the Maliks and Jhaver, Las Vegas-based Big Chicken recently announced its upcoming franchise expansion into the West Texas, central Oklahoma, Chicago, Arizona and greater Los Angeles markets.
Big Chicken is backed by partners JRS Hospitality, Las Vegas; Authentic Brands Group, New York; and O’Neal.
Big Chicken's menu includes chicken sandwiches and tenders, sides and salads. It fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors, from crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to Cheez-It crusted mac and cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes. With two traditional locations currently open, in Las Vegas and Glendale, Calif., and several in development, Big Chicken is set to begin U.S. and international expansion through franchising.
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