Raising Cane’s is opening its new location in Athens on Oct. 7 at the intersection of Court and Union Street.
The Athens location is the company’s first in the region. The nearest Cane’s is in Lancaster, Ohio, about a 50-minute drive from Athens.
The company, known for its chicken finger meals, Texas toast and signature Cane’s sauce, has expanded to nearly 900 restaurants nationwide, including more than 60 in Ohio. Its new Athens location comes as part of a broader push to open restaurants near college campuses.
Shayna Kobuck, Raising Cane’s public relations specialist, noted Cane’s first location opened at Louisiana State University in August 1996.
“From the beginning, the brand has been deeply rooted in markets centered around college and university campuses,” Kobuck wrote in an email. “We are excited to bring our ONE LOVE® – Craveable Chicken Finger Meals® – to both the Ohio University and wider Athens Communities.”
The company opened a location near Columbia University in New York City on Sept. 4 and another near the University of Michigan in Ann Arboron Sept. 16. In total, seven new locations are scheduled to open in September.
The Athens site, across from Ohio University’s College Green, is expected to see significant foot traffic. However, unlike many Raising Cane’s restaurants, the location will not have a drive-through, and parking near the intersection is limited.
“The development process for each Raising Cane’s Restaurant is tailored to the unique character of the community,” Kobuck said in an email. “Our goal is to be as close to the campus as possible while also still being positioned for accessibility for non-student customers.”
Some OU students said they are eager for the opening and already plan to visit.
“It’s probably my favorite restaurant,” Parker McGowan, a junior studying animation, said.
Others expressed concern about how the new chain may affect existing businesses. Earl’s Coop and local businesses could face new competition.
“I love Raising Cane’s,” Ethan Stare, an OU sophomore, said. “I think it’s definitely going to take a toll on Earl’s Coop, though. A lot of people are going to pick Cane’s.”
Concerns also extended to Miller’s Chicken, a decades-old Athens business.
“I’m worried about Miller’s,” Mitchell Shadwick, an OU alumnus, said. “It’s really good, [it’s] a local favorite, but I think Cane’s is so convenient, and I feel like we don’t have a ton of licensed restaurants around here that are big chains.”
Raising Cane’s said its goal is to serve both student and non-student customers with the new location.
“At Raising Cane’s, we are always looking for opportunities to bring our delicious Chicken Finger Meals to new communities,” Kobuck said in an email. “We love the energy and excitement Raising Cane’s has garnered across Ohio and look forward to bringing more of our brand to Athens.”
