Inside the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Coralville, crew members prepared for Tuesday's opening day with a chat to get pumped up for what was already appearing to be a busy shift.

“When I say Raising, you say Cane’s. Raising. Cane’s. Raising. Cane’s,” restaurant workers shouted.

The restaurant opened Tuesday morning to a line of about 75 people and growing following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m.

Members of the Coralville community joined the morning ceremony, including mayor Meghann Foster, Coralville city councilor Laurie Goodrich and students from the dance and cheer teams of Liberty and West High School.

“I have to tell you that I have two teenage kids who have been pestering me all the time about when is Cane’s going to be open,” Foster told the crowd gathered inside the restaurant for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Located at 2800 Commerce Dr., it’s the first Raising Canes in Johnson County, with the nearest location about 60 miles away in Davenport.

The restaurant is known for its chicken fingers and popular Cane’s sauce, a sweet and tangy dip rounded out by a simple menu: crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and coleslaw.

The first Raising Cane’s opened in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996.

Anthony Cavanary, restaurant leader, thanked the Coralville community, the Raising Cane’s crew and his family at the morning ceremony.

“Being part of this community is such an amazing opportunity for Cane’s,” he said.

The Coralville location is the sixth Raising Cane’s in Iowa. The chicken finger restaurant has nearly 700 restaurants nationwide.

Outside, families, community members and some University of Iowa students waited to place their orders.

“We’re big Cane’s enthusiasts,” said Niksa Poleksic, standing with two other UI students who had joined the line about 45 minutes earlier.

Poleksic said he used to frequent the Raising Cane’s location in Cedar Falls. That location was also a spot for another UI student, Hugh Zehar, who had been in line since 8 a.m. Zehar recently moved to Iowa City from Cedar Falls for law school. He was excited to get his box combo and extra sauce.

As part of the grand opening ceremony, the Coralville restaurant presented a $1,500 check to Houses into Homes, a nonprofit that provides gently used furniture to families and individuals in Johnson County in need of assistance.

Meanwhile, other Raising Cane’s opening day traditions took place, including presenting a crew member with a Spirit Award to celebrate their hard work and a hard hat soon to be signed by crew to be hung inside the restaurant.

Doors opened to customers 20 minutes before its official 10 a.m. opening. People stepped inside the store, many bundled up from the chilly spring morning, and placed their orders.

Iowa City-area community members will recognize much of the restaurant’s wall decor, including Hayden Fry memorabilia and a framed visitor’s guide to Iowa City and Coralville.

“I couldn’t be more excited to help bring Raising Cane’s to my hometown,” Cavanary said in a press release. “The Coralville community is super friendly and welcoming and that’s exactly what customers can expect from all of us at the new restaurant.”

According to the press release, there is “future growth planned throughout the Iowa City area.”

Raising Cane’s will be open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Raising Cane's opens in Coralville; UI students, families arrive early