Shaq’s Big Chicken partners with Kent’s Blue Origin for space postcards

For a limited time, Renton students and beyond can have their Big Chicken-inspired postcards sent to space.

The Shaquille O’Neal-owned restaurant Big Chicken, which has a Renton location at The Landing, has partnered with Kent-based aerospace company Blue Origin’s nonprofit organization Club for the Future, which works to inspire kids interested in STEM and outer space to pursue careers in the future of space travel. Shaq is a former NBA star and current NBA analyst.

From Oct. 24 to Dec. 15, Big Chicken is encouraging its restaurant guests, especially students, to complete a special Big Chicken-Club for the Future postcard, which will be taken to space as part of the nonprofit’s Postcards to Space program.

“The postcard is an opportunity to come up with ideas of running a restaurant in space or maybe what ingredients would go on a chicken sandwich in space. That’s just fun for the kids,” said David Jones, owner and operator of Big Chicken in Renton and the recently opened Big Chicken in Mukilteo.

While Club for the Future is dedicated to inspiring a younger generation to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), this partnership with Big Chicken is meant to get students to think about everyday life once in space — which could include going to or running a restaurant.

”How would you market a restaurant in space? We want people to brainstorm what it would look like,” said Anna Tauzin, Big Chicken’s head of marketing. “It’s amazing to think that this generation could answer these questions.”

Big Chicken and Club for the Future have also developed a lesson plan and educational curriculum that teachers can introduce to their students from elementary to high school levels to brainstorm possible menu items that can be eaten in space and give students an introduction to restaurant marketing.

During this campaign, completed postcards, which are now available at select Big Chicken locations nationwide, can be submitted to Big Chicken registers in exchange for a free kids sundae, which are limited to one free sundae per postcard per person. Along with a free sundae, guests will be treated to activity packages that include free stickers and temporary tattoos.

As part of the Postcards to Space program, Big Chicken postcards will be placed aboard an upcoming Blue Origin space mission and will then be returned to the postcard owner with a stamp verifying that the letter had “Flown to Space.”

“Our partnerships with Blue Origin and Club for the Future are an integral part of bringing Shaquille’s vision of big dreams and big fun to life for our brand,” said Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken. “This new activity will inspire the next generation and foster a big sense of wonder and possibility.”

For more information, visit bigchicken.com/clubforthefuture.