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Past NBA star Shaq’s Big Chicken restaurants headed to Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. — Editor’s note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal’s chicken restaurant chain is headed to Orlando as part of a Florida expansion.

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Las Vegas-based Big Chicken signed a 45-unit franchise agreement with DMD Ventures that covers Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The Davie-based company is a franchise owner for concepts like Twin Peaks, Papa Johns, IHG Hotels and Go Minis Portable Storage.

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The chain may open six or seven locations in the Orlando area, Fred Burgess, principal, co-founder and co-CEO of DMD Ventures, told Orlando Business Journal. While he declined to offer specifics on locations, he did say the Disney area would be among the sites the chain would consider.

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal’s website.

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