Big Shaq was known not just for his towering presence and larger-than-life personality, but also for his business ventures, including a chain of diners that bore his name. Big Shaq’s Diner had become a well-loved establishment, known for its hearty meals, friendly service, and welcoming atmosphere. However, as of late, complaints had begun trickling in—long wait times, lackluster food quality, and most troubling of all, unhappy employees.
Determined to get to the bottom of the problem, Big Shaq decided to visit one of his diners unannounced. But he wouldn’t go as himself—if the staff knew the boss was coming, they would put on their best behavior. He needed to see things as they truly were. Donning a simple hoodie, a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, and a pair of sunglasses, he walked into his own restaurant as just another customer.
The moment he stepped inside, something felt off. The usual warmth and energy of the place were gone. The servers moved quickly, but their smiles were forced. Conversations were hushed, laughter was nonexistent, and the few customers dining looked more frustrated than satisfied.
He took a seat at a corner booth, scanning the restaurant. No one greeted him right away. After a few minutes, a young waitress approached, her name tag reading “Emily.” Her uniform was slightly wrinkled, and dark circles under her eyes hinted at exhaustion.
“Welcome to Big Shaq’s Diner,” she said with a polite but weary smile. “What can I get for you?”
Big Shaq ordered a simple meal—a burger and fries with a cup of coffee. As Emily jotted down his order, he noticed the way her hands trembled slightly. Something wasn’t right.
As he waited, he took in the atmosphere. The other employees darted around, moving with a hurried urgency, as if fearful of something. The air was thick with tension. Then, from the kitchen, he heard it—a muffled sob. Someone was crying.
His gut clenched. He set his coffee down and, without hesitation, stood up and made his way toward the kitchen. Pushing open the door slightly, he found the source of the sobs—Emily, wiping at her tears with the sleeve of her uniform. Standing over her was a broad-shouldered man, his arms crossed and face twisted in a scowl.
It didn’t take long for Big Shaq to figure out who he was. Rick Sanders, the shift manager. A man whose reputation for running his employees into the ground had been whispered in some of the reports Shaq had received.
“I told you, no breaks until the rush is over,” Rick growled. “If you can’t handle it, maybe you shouldn’t be working here at all.”
Emily sniffled, straightening herself. “I just needed a second,” she whispered. “I haven’t sat down since my shift started.”
Rick scoffed. “Maybe if you worked faster, you wouldn’t need to.”
That was enough. Big Shaq pushed the door open fully, his presence filling the kitchen. Rick turned, startled by the unexpected guest.
“Is there a problem here?” Big Shaq’s voice was calm, but there was an undeniable weight behind it.
Rick frowned. “Who are you? This is a staff area.”
Big Shaq reached into his pocket, pulled out his executive ID, and held it up. “I’m the owner.”
Rick’s face paled instantly. Emily’s eyes widened in shock, and the other employees who had been too afraid to step in watched with anticipation.
“You think it’s acceptable to treat my staff like this?” Shaq continued, his voice steady but full of authority. “To run them into exhaustion, to break them down instead of building them up?”
Rick opened his mouth, trying to regain his composure. “I was just trying to keep things running smoothly—”
Shaq shook his head. “No, you were running this place into the ground. And now you’re done.”
Rick’s jaw tensed. “You can’t just fire me.”
“I just did.”
The kitchen remained silent as Rick stood there, his confidence draining away. He glanced around, hoping for some kind of support, but none of the employees stepped in to defend him. He scoffed, throwing his apron onto the counter. “Fine.”
With that, he turned and stormed out of the kitchen. The tension that had suffocated the diner seemed to dissipate instantly. The employees exchanged glances, some barely concealing their relief.
Shaq turned to Emily. “You okay?”
She nodded, though she still looked shaken. “I just… I thought it would always be like this.”
“Not anymore.”
Over the next few weeks, Shaq made sure his diner returned to the place he had envisioned—a place of respect and teamwork. He brought in a new manager, someone with experience but, more importantly, someone who valued their employees. He established better scheduling policies, ensuring no one worked themselves to exhaustion. Slowly, the warmth returned. Laughter began to fill the space again. Customers noticed the change, and soon, the diner was thriving once more.
One afternoon, as Shaq prepared to leave, Emily approached him, this time with a genuine smile. “Thank you,” she said softly. “For everything.”
Shaq smiled back. “Just doing what’s right.”
As he stepped outside, he knew this wouldn’t be the last time he checked in on his diners. Businesses weren’t just about numbers—they were about people. And he would always make sure his people were taken care of.
Shaquille O’Neal Ready to Host ‘the Best Super Bowl Party Ever’ to the Detriment of His Wallet (Exclusive)
For the sixth year in a row, the athlete is bringing his Shaq’s Fun House event to the Super Bowl
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Shaquille O’Neal at Shaq’s Fun House in 2023. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty
Shaquille O’Neal wants another title: Best Super Bowl party ever.
For the sixth year in a row, O’Neal is bringing his Shaq’s Fun House event to the Super Bowl. This year, the 58th annual championship football game will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas.
“Just when you thought the Super Bowl couldn’t get any bigger, we’re headed to Vegas,” O’Neal tells PEOPLE about his annual bash, which will be hosted at Wynn Las Vegas’ XS nightclub on Feb. 9.
The party has become one of the hottest tickets during Super Bowl weekend, and previous iterations of the Fun House have been attended by Adam Levine, Migos, Patrick Mahomes and Jamie Foxx.
With a carnival-like atmosphere, the 2024 version includes events, games, activations, giveaways and live performances by Lil Wayne, Diplo, and O’Neal’s deejay alter-ego, DJ DIESEL. And, one thing the retired NBA legend promises: fun!
“Shaq’s Fun House was created because all the corporate parties are guys just standing around and they just look at each other and just talk,” he says. “This is Super Bowl weekend… It’s going to be a great event. It is going to be fun.”
No stranger to Las Vegas, O’Neal has owned homes and restaurants in the city, while The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation fundraiser — dubbed The Event — has become an annual staple on the world-famous strip.
In November 2023, O’Neal hosted a party alongside David Beckham for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Tickets to that motorsports event were rather pricey, reaching upwards of $5,000. However, Shaq’s Fun House won’t be that expensive, as he’s charging $99.99.
“I know there’s a lot going on in Vegas, but I guarantee you I’m the only guy that’s dropping prices because you know what, I really care about the people. This has never been about money for me. This has been about doing a good event,” he explains.
The sports analyst adds, “I want to be responsible for the best event in Vegas. Sometimes we make money, sometimes we don’t. But who cares? The experience is what matters.”
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Shaq’s Fun House in 2022.Frazer Harrison/Getty
While O’Neal will be on the turntables, he might also grab the microphone and freestyle from rap. In the ‘90s, he released four studio rap albums. And just last month, he was featured on a track called “Chaos” by YouTube-famous rapper GAWNE.
“I dropped some heat on that,” O’Neal says, before quickly noting that he has no desire to release another rap album. “Being a rapper is trying to make money. I’m not doing that. But I will drop freestyle every now and then.”
“Remember, life is all about competition. That’s the reason why we do Shaq’s Fun House. I want the title of the best Super Bowl party ever. That’s why we’re doing it. I’m not doing it just to be doing it. I want that title,” he says.
