Hundreds of locals greet Shaquille O’Neal in Hartland Township

HARTLAND TWP. — Normally, when Brighton and Hartland are facing off in a varsity football game, it's the biggest thing in town. But the game came in a close second on Sept. 27, after Shaquille O’Neal came to Hartland Township.

NBA Hall of Famer O'Neal is also an entrepreneur. He was in town Friday to visit the second Big Chicken location to open in Michigan at 10490 Highland Road. O'Neal is the owner of the national chain restaurant.

Word spread quickly on social media of O'Neal's impending visit, attracting hundreds of fans to the store by 2 p.m. O'Neal was originally expected to arrive mid-day, but travel delays saw him pull up in an all-black van just before 6 p.m.

Hartland franchisee owner Hafaid Gobah said he didn’t know about O’Neal’s plans until Wednesday, and the Grand Blanc resident scrambled to get the store ready. O’Neal often visits newly opened Big Chicken restaurants around the country to help promote them to locals.

“I hope it will help more people (find) us,” Gobah said. “We’re growing pretty fast. It’s a great location close to the (US-23) freeway.”

Self-proclaimed superfan and Commerce Township resident Lisa Justuson sported an O’Neal Phoenix Suns jersey and basketball shoes when she arrived at the restaurant around 2 p.m. She's been a fan of the 7-footer since he was first chosen in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. She owns one or more jerseys from all six teams he's played on.

“A 70-year-old neighbor of mine sent me a text message about his coming here today,” Justuson said. “I’m a huge Shaq fan ever since he was drafted. One of the biggest ones around, I bet."

Justuson was joined by her friend, Jennifer Rio, who was wearing her Boston Celtics jersey, emblazoned with O’Neal’s name and number. The center played for Boston during his final year in 2010-11.

“She’s not nearly the fan I am, but she said she’d come with me,” Justuson said of her friend. “I came here to the grand opening of the restaurant (last month) because I knew Shaq owned it, so I wasn’t going to miss this.”

O’Neal wasn't expected to sign autographs and headed into the restaurant a few minutes after arrival. Many of those in attendance brought basketballs, books, jerseys and other memorabilia, just in case.

Big Chicken is known for savory chicken sandwiches, ice cream shakes and O’Neal’s favorite childhood dishes, like Cheez-It-crusted mac and cheese. Its first location in Michigan opened in Clio last year. A third location is expected to open later this year in Livonia.

All menu items come approved by O’Neal himself — and his mother, Lucille.

Hartland resident Micah Field and Wixom resident Joelle Gould were rolling past the Big Chicken restaurant on their motorcycle mid-afternoon when they stopped to see why such a large crowd was gathering. Once they heard about O’Neal’s expected arrival, the pair decided to wait around, even though neither is a basketball fan.

“I thought the person who told us ... was pulling my leg,” Field said. “When else are you going to see such a big star in Hartland?”

Gould agreed, saying the mild weather made it a perfect afternoon to wait. Even though a potential “meet and greet” line had formed all around the building and deep into the parking lot, Gould nor Field were that worried about trying to meet O’Neal, preferring to sit along the perimeter of the property.

“Who would have thought a celebrity like Shaq would be coming here?” Gould said.

— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Hundreds of locals greet Shaquille O’Neal in Hartland Township