Seven new restaurants and four reopenings mark a milestone year for the beloved chicken finger chain
Raising Cane’s is celebrating a major anniversary in a big way. As the chain turns 30 this August, it’s marking the occasion with a wave of new store debuts and a handful of remodeled locations welcoming customers back through their doors.
The Baton Rouge-based chicken finger empire is opening seven new restaurants this month, including its first-ever locations in two fresh markets: eastern North Carolina and southeastern Georgia. Four previously shuttered locations are also getting a second life after extensive remodels, according to information the company shared with USA TODAY.
Growth, it seems, is the name of the game as Raising Cane’s rides a wave of momentum. The chain recently expanded its footprint with new restaurants in Pensacola, Florida, which opened on June 16, and in Albany, Georgia, which debuted on July 21. That Georgia opening came with a splashy touch — a “Lucky 20” giveaway that handed 20 lucky customers a full year of free food.
The Legacy Behind the Brand
Raising Cane‘s traces its roots back to August 28, 1996, when the very first restaurant opened its doors. Nearly three decades later, the brand has become a fast-food juggernaut, largely thanks to its singular focus: chicken fingers paired with its signature Cane’s Sauce. The company describes the sauce as a thick and tangy blend made from a mix of proprietary spices, a formula that has helped cultivate a near-cult following among fans.
The brand leaned into the sentimental value of the anniversary, noting that August carries extra weight this year as it looks back on nearly 30 years of growth since that original 1996 opening. From breaking into new markets like Rocky Mount and Statesboro to reopening beloved remodeled spots for loyal regulars, the company signaled that each new opening this month reflects a broader commitment to expanding its reach nationwide.
Raising Cane’s Expansion Rolls On This August
This month alone brings seven brand-new restaurant openings alongside four remodeled reopenings, spanning multiple states from coast to coast.
New restaurant openings include:
- Michigan – 26245 Novi Road, Novi (Aug. 3)
- North Carolina – 1010 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount (Aug. 3)
- California – 400 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (Aug. 10)
- California – 16940 Slover Ave., Fontana (Aug. 17)
- New Jersey – 801 W. Edgar Road, Linden (Aug. 17)
- Alabama – 1241 McFarland Blvd. E., Tuscaloosa (Aug. 24)
- Georgia – 24087 US-80, Statesboro (Aug. 24)
Remodeled Locations Reopening Their Doors
Meanwhile, four previously closed locations are set to reopen this month following renovations:
- Texas – 1045 Texas Ave., College Station (Aug. 12)
- Kentucky – 2555 Nicholasville Road, Lexington (Aug. 17)
- Nevada – 7550 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas (Aug. 17)
- Ohio – 1320 N. Hamilton Road, Gahanna (Aug. 24)
What This Means for Fans Nationwide
For longtime fans, the anniversary rollout signals that Raising Cane’s has no intention of slowing its national push anytime soon. The brand’s entry into new territory in North Carolina and Georgia suggests continued interest in reaching underserved markets in the South, while its reopening of remodeled restaurants in states like Texas, Kentucky, Nevada and Ohio shows an equal investment in maintaining and upgrading its existing footprint.
With 11 locations either opening or reopening in a single month, the chain is putting real muscle behind its 30th birthday celebration. Whether fans are craving a first taste of Cane’s signature combo in a brand-new market or returning to a freshly renovated favorite, August is shaping up to be a defining month for the fast-growing chain.
Source: USA Today
