Athens is an incredible and beautiful melting pot of people and businesses. The most iconic places in town are the local spots, such as Bagel Street Deli and Donkey Coffee. For the city of Athens to slap another location of the already third-largest chicken chain in the U.S. on the corner of Union Street and Court Street is nothing short of an abomination.
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is a nuisance to Athens. The location is far better suited for something to keep the local economy booming, especially considering there are other locations where Cane's could have thrived, while other small businesses may not have.
For example, the vacant spot where Mac Shack, located at 14 S Court St., used to be would have been a better location strategically, both for the sake of sales and the sake of minimizing the already insane foot traffic on Court Street.
On its opening day, Oct. 7, I watched in horror as students generated a line that stretched all the way to Court Street Coffee at 9:30 a.m. All for the promise of oftentimes soggy fries and mediocre-tasting chicken. Its redeeming qualities lie in the Texas toast and famous Cane’s sauce; however, the sauce is an easy online recipe, and Texas toast is not difficult to whip up on your own.
Anyone can replicate Canes’ signature flavor with ketchup, mayo, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder, without having to pay a minimum of $9 for a combo larger than a kids' meal. Which, by the way, is a handful of fries and two measly tenders.
In a report early this year, local business owners complained about the losses of long-standing local businesses in Athens. Construction from The Lostro Boutique Hotel, which is seeking $200,000 for the remainder of the project and costing more local space, is located directly above the Raising Cane’s storefront. The hotel has also had its fair share of inconvenient construction, even closing Cool Digs Rock Shop this past year as a result of slower sales.
Not to mention, there are already plenty of places to get local and fairer quality chicken in Athens. Miller’s Chicken and Hot Box Chicken Fingers & Tots are nearby. Miller’s has several options for a really good price, for example, a five-piece fried chicken meal is $9.25 while a Raising Cane’s 6-piece Caniac Combo is $15.59.
Hot Box has an array of sandwiches, combos and chicken and waffles. Providing much more bang for your buck, their kids' meal comes with three tenders, fries or tots, a toy and a 12-ounce drink for $9.50.
By welcoming Cane's on Court Street and other chains like Chipotle and Starbucks on East State Street, big corporations take up more unnecessary space that could instead be used to help local businesses and the local economy.
These places drive us away from the local charm Athens is known for and the excitement of trying somewhere new.
Think twice before going to Cane's. Think about how heavily it sits in your stomach after eating. Think about the insane cost for some pretty OK tenders.
Think instead about trying to learn a new chicken recipe you can make at home. Think about saving your money for a local business just a little further down the street. Think about Athens and its residents before sinking more money into a chain.
The Pest is a satirical column and does not reflect the views of The Post.
