Popular place for chicken fingers to open March 7 in Springfield
An Illinois city shared the title of having the first Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers to open in 2023 Tuesday – but that honor went to the Windy City, not Springfield.
However, local “Caniacs” – as fans of the chain are known – now have a date to put on their calendar.
The Baton Rouge, Lousiana-based chain will open March 7 at 3100 West White Oaks Drive, a company spokesman confirmed this week.
Even so, that early date hardly places the site – at the southwest corner of Veterans Parkway and Wabash Avenue – at the front of the pack for the fast food chain’s new venues.
Raising Cane’s is scheduled to christen 100 new stores in 2023. The list began Tuesday with new locations opening in downtown Chicago and the Philadelphia suburb of Trevose. A third ribbon cutting followed Thursday when Raising Cane’s entered the Baltimore market with a restaurant in the suburb of Towson.
Earlier story:These five businesses are going to open this year in Springfield
A company spokesman said additional openings are expected at another 20 locations before the first chicken strips are served up at the Springfield site.
“Raising Cane’s has lots of fans across Illinois so to be bringing the very first restaurant to Springfield is beyond exciting,” said Julia Doyle, the brand’s director of public relations. “We’re ready to plant our flag and make some great connections with the community.
“This is just one of nearly 100 locations we are planning to open this year, including new markets like New York, Washington D.C., Tampa and Baltimore.”
Raising Cane’s has built its name on a streamlined menu that focuses solely on a quality chicken strip meal. The brand’s “One Love” concept starts with chicken breast tenders hand-dipped and breaded daily, fried in a canola oil blend and cooked to order.
The meal can be paired with crinkle-cut fries, fresh-made coleslaw, Texas toast and Cane’s signature sauce – a proprietary blend made daily onsite.
The concept was the passion project of founder Todd Graves, who received the lowest grade in his college business class with his professor scoffing at the idea of a business that only served chicken fingers.
Graves opened his first location in 1996 just off the campus of Louisiana State University.
Raising Cane’s is expected to be topping 700 sites by March.
Two new businesses joined the area dining scene while A la Carte was on hiatus last month.
Natalie Morris can be reached at 737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers to open March 7 in Springfield
