These 5 Cities Are About to Get a Raising Cane’s

Fast food chains are feeling the squeeze as customers seek new ways to stretch a restaurant budget. Reduced consumer spending has fast food restaurants pulling back on their physical locations, but Raising Cane's is continuing to open new locations, perhaps with the goal of surpassing Chick-fil-A and Popeyes in the quick-serve chicken market.

Raising Cane's ranked as the third-largest fast-food chicken chain by 2025 U.S. systemwide sales in QSR magazine's 2026 QSR 50, and it plans to open nearly 100 new restaurants in 2026. Here are 19 cities where Raising Cane's opened a new restaurant or reopened a remodeled one between May and August 2026.

Arkansas

• Jonesboro: 2511 E. Highland Drive (May 12, 2026)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the grand opening by the Raising Cane's staff and the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce to welcome the new location to their area. The grand opening included giveaway drawings, a check presentation to the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society, and the local high school put on performances of their drumlines and cheer team.

California

• El Centro: 2299 N. Imperial Ave. (May 12, 2026)

The El Centro location held its grand opening on May 12, 2026, and was the chain's first restaurant in the Imperial Valley.

• Inglewood: 3895 W. Century Blvd. (June 8, 2026)

Inglewood is home to Raising Cane's first California flagship restaurant, located near SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome. It's the chain's sixth flagship, joining destination restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami and Nashville.

• Lemon Grove: 7595 Broadway (June 8, 2026)

The East County restaurant adds to a San Diego County footprint that started when Raising Cane's debuted in Santee in 2018.

• Alhambra: 146 S. Palm Ave. (June 22, 2026)

Alhambra's second Raising Cane's opened with a double-lane drive-thru and about 100 new jobs. The company donated $1,000 each to the athletic departments at San Gabriel High School and Alhambra High School, and the first customer reportedly arrived at 3 a.m. to camp out for the opening.

• Los Angeles (Westwood): 10946 Weyburn Ave. (July 13, 2026)

The Westwood restaurant, at the corner of Broxton and Weyburn avenues, opened about three years after Raising Cane's secured the lease. It's the chain's second location on L.A.'s Westside, features UCLA-themed decor, and is open 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Florida

• Gainesville: 3433 SW Archer Road (May 27, 2026)

The new location in Gainesville features a double-lane drive-thru, aimed at faster order fulfillment and shorter traffic lines.

Raising Cane's restaurant leader Seneca Cook said in a press release, "We're excited to deepen our roots, continue to build meaningful relationships, support local nonprofits and give back in ways that make a real difference."

• Pensacola: 5110 N. Ninth Ave. (June 16, 2026)

Pensacola's first Raising Cane's replaced the former Red Lobster near Cordova Mall. The chain set out to hire 150 crew members, with pay starting at $15 per hour.

• Kissimmee: 1200 W. Osceola Pkwy. (June 29, 2026)

The Hunters Creek-area restaurant is the chain's second in Kissimmee and features a design with theme park-inspired touches.

Illinois

• Vernon Hills: 151 E. Townline Road (June 2, 2026)

The new restaurant took over the former Jameson's Charhouse site along Route 60, more than three years after Raising Cane's first asked village officials about the property.

Kentucky

• Lexington: 2201 War Admiral Way (re-opening May 18, 2026)

Rather than build a new location, Raising Cane's remodeled this existing Lexington restaurant. In addition to remodeling some existing locations, the regional hub is also in the process of being renovated and relocated, with completion expected in 2027.

Maryland

• Owings Mills: 10231 Reisterstown Road (May 27, 2026)

The state got its first Raising Cane's in 2023, in Towson. The Owings Mills location is part of a small retail center called Painters Mill Place, and required special exceptions to include things like a car wash in the center.

New York

• Laurelton: 230-05 Merrick Blvd. (May 13, 2026)

Queens got its first Raising Cane's drive-thru, joining locations in Flushing, Jackson Heights, Jamaica and Forest Hills. The new drive-thru is the closest option for Long Islanders who crave the crispy fried chicken.

Hundreds of people gathered for the grand opening, and 20 lucky winners received a drawing prize of free Raising Cane's for a year. Another Queens restaurant, at 70-28 Austin St. in Forest Hills, was scheduled to open Oct. 22, 2026.

North Carolina

• Greensboro: 4423 W. Wendover Ave. (May 22)

The Greensboro restaurant hired 140 employees ahead of the grand opening, with pay starting at $13 per hour. This location is the first in the busy commercial corridor and is part of the Triad market.

• Jacksonville: 1106 Western Blvd. (July 13, 2026)

Jacksonville's first Raising Cane's opened with community celebrations, giveaways, and a drawing for 20 customers to win free Cane's for a year. Positions started at $13 per hour.

• Rocky Mount: 1010 N. Wesleyan Blvd. (Aug. 3, 2026)

The Rocky Mount restaurant marked the chain's entry into a new eastern North Carolina market. It was built on the site of a former Red Lobster that closed in May 2024.

Ohio

• Akron: 3921 Medina Rd. (May 27, 2026)

The new Raising Cane's location was formerly a Melt Bar & Grill in the Bath area of Akron. It closed in 2024 due to bankruptcy and has now been replaced with a chicken fast-food chain. There are two other Raising Cane's nearby, one in Cuyahoga Falls and the other in Macedonia.

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma City: 14100 N. Pennsylvania Ave. (May 4, 2026)

Rather than a new location, this is a remodel that was temporarily closed and has reopened with an updated design.

Washington

• Lynnwood: 1232 164th St. SW (June 23, 2026)

The Lynnwood restaurant is the first in Snohomish County and brought the first Raising Cane's drive-thru to the Seattle area. The chain hired for more than 170 positions, with pay starting at $17.50 per hour.

Coming soon

• Idaho Falls, Idaho: 2236 S. 25th East (Oct. 27, 2026)

The Idaho Falls restaurant will have a double-lane drive-thru, and the grand opening includes a $1,000 donation to Idaho Falls School District 91.

• Brick, New Jersey: 1036 Cedar Bridge Ave. (Nov. 2, 2026)

Raising Cane's first Jersey Shore restaurant will open in Brick Plaza with a two-lane drive-thru, on the site of a former Quaker Steak & Lube. The chain plans to hire 80 crew members.

• Spanish Fork, Utah: 990 N. 400 East (Nov. 2, 2026)

Spanish Fork's first Raising Cane's created 65 local jobs. Opening-day festivities include a "Lucky 20" drawing for free Cane's for a year.

• Sioux Falls, South Dakota: 4004 W. 41st St. (Nov. 17, 2026)

South Dakota's first Raising Cane's will open across the street from The Empire Mall.

• Walker, Michigan: Alpine Avenue (November 2026)

A Walker restaurant is set to open in November, with a goal of opening before Thanksgiving.

The expansion of Raising Cane's shows no signs of stopping. A third Knoxville, Tennessee, location is tentatively set for spring 2027, and the chain hopes to open in Rohnert Park and Napa, California, in 2027. An Austell, Georgia, restaurant is slated for late 2027. Officials in Colonie, New York, and West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania, have also approved new restaurants. Internationally, a flagship is planned for London's Piccadilly Circus in early 2027.

Once Sioux Falls opens, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming will be the only states still waiting for a Raising Cane's.

Bottom line

A study by PR Superstar compared Google ratings for 12 major drive-thru chains in all 50 states. The biggest winner was Raising Cane's, which rated top in 18 states. The chain also debuted in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index with a score of 79, matching the quick-service average. Those are encouraging marks for a fast food chain while customers are looking for ways to boost their bank accounts and ease the financial stress of rising costs for both groceries and going out to eat.

Expansion can be risky in times of economic turmoil, but Raising Cane's is approaching it at a steady pace.

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