Raising Cane’s is expanding its presence in Chattanooga with a second location opening Tuesday on Gunbarrel Road.
The fast-casual restaurant known for its hand-battered chicken fingers opened its first Chattanooga area store in Hixson in January.
“This is a very vibrant community, and we want to continue to expand our presence,” Doug Haley, area leader of restaurants for Raising Cane’s, said in an interview Monday.
He said 1833 Gunbarrel Road was chosen for the new restaurant due to the high traffic at the site.
More Chattanooga stores could be on the horizon, but no specific sites have been identified yet, Haley said.
Founded in 1996, Raising Cane’s is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The fast-growing chain has more than 950 restaurants across over 40 states, according to a press release.
In addition to its high quality chicken finger meals, Haley said what makes Raising Cane’s special is its employees.
(READ MORE: Raising Cane’s to open first Chattanooga eatery in Hixson)
“We have a very unique culture,” said Haley, who has worked at the company for more than a decade. “We take the service component to a different level, because that’s something that we’re very passionate about as a brand. It’s also just a fun environment.”
The Gunbarrel Road location has 115 crew members and eight managers, he said.
Seating about 120, the restaurant’s dining area features memorabilia from local high school sports teams and artwork of area attractions.
Haley said his favorite order is the “Perfect Box,” including four hand-battered chicken fingers, 4 ounces of crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Cane’s sauce and Texas toast.
Thalia Schwarz, area leader of marketing, recommends the restaurant’s lemonade, which is made in store with freshly squeezed lemons each morning, she said.
Chattanooga developer Bassam Issa owns and leases the property, which was previously occupied by a car wash. Issa also brought Panda Express, Longhorn Steakhouse and Popeyes to Gunbarrel Road.
He earlier told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that Raising Cane’s is known for its high-volume sales and does a similar amount of business as Chick-fil-A.
At the grand opening Tuesday, the first 100 customers to purchase a “Box Combo” will receive a hat and card redeemable for a free Box Combo, and customers 13 and older can enter a drawing from 8-9 a.m. in which 20 people will be awarded free Raising Cane’s for a year, a release said.
Contact business reporter Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.
