Raising Cane’s announces first Michigan restaurant's opening date

Bryce Airgood, Lansing State Journal
·3 min read

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect Raising Cane's new operating hours. As the opening drew nearer, the company decided closing at 2 a.m. rather than 3:30 a.m. as previously planned some nights was the best fit for its operations, according to a statement from the company.

EAST LANSING — Eight months after announcing plans to open its first Michigan restaurant, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers has announced a fall opening date.

“We are so excited to confirm opening our first Michigan restaurant in East Lansing on Tuesday, Oct. 18!” Julia Doyle of Raising Cane’s said in an email Oct. 3.

Doors will open to the public at 10 a.m. Twenty customers will win “Free Cane’s for a Year,” with contest entries accepted from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and winners drawn at 9 a.m., according to a company press release Wednesday.

At 9 a.m. East Lansing Mayor Ron Bacon is expected to join other city council and chamber of commerce members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Michigan State University’s cheerleaders and dance team are also scheduled to attend and Raising Cane’s will present the athletes with a $1,000 check in support of MSU Athletics, the release states.

The restaurant will host a soft opening event Monday, Oct. 17, when crew members can invite friends and family. Local community partners also will get a sneak peek before the restaurant's official opening, Doyle said.

The restaurant’s regular hours are 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The restaurant is at 301 E. Grand River Ave., across M.A.C. Avenue from Potbelly Sandwich Shop and nestled between Cold Stone Creamery and the Curious Book Shop.

The restaurant already hit its hiring goal of 130 employees, but people interested in applying can still visit Raising Cane’s website, Doyle said.

“We have a great group of crew getting trained up and ready to go,” she said.

Raising Cane’s was founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The company has grown from a single restaurant outside the north gates of Louisiana State University to nearly 700 restaurants across 32 U.S. states and Guam.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers will open its East Lansing restaurant to the public on Oct. 18, 2022.
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers will open its East Lansing restaurant to the public on Oct. 18, 2022.

Raising Cane's chose East Lansing for its first Michigan restaurant due to its proximity to MSU, as students make great “Caniacs,” the name for the restaurant’s customers, Raising Cane’s Chief Operating Officer and co-CEO AJ Kumaran said in a past interview.

Raising Cane’s menus include chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Cane’s sauce and Texas toast.

“As a native Michigander, I am so excited to officially be opening our first Raising Cane’s in Michigan,” Raising Cane’s Regional Leader of Restaurants Jenn Szewc said in the press release. “There is so much enthusiasm and anticipation already among our East Lansing Caniacs, and I could not think of a better location to open than in the heart of MSU’s campus. All our new Michigan Crew are trained and ready to serve up our amazing Chicken Finger Meals, and we cannot wait to get started.”

Contact Bryce Airgood at 517-267-0448 or bairgood@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Raising Cane’s first Michigan, East Lansing restaurant opening date