Raising Cane's Expands Nationwide With 12 New Locations This Month

Raising Cane's is continuing its rapid nationwide expansion by opening 12 new restaurants across 10 states this month. The Louisiana-based fast-food chain, known for its signature chicken fingers, Cane's Sauce, and Texas toast, is rolling out new storefronts in communities from coast to coast following a successful string of openings earlier in the fall.

The ongoing expansion builds upon a period of immense financial and operational growth for the brand. In October, Raising Cane's opened seven new stores, bringing its nationwide total to 900 locations and accumulating $5.1 billion in sales. This milestone helped the chain surpass KFC to become the third top chicken chain in the United States by sales. A company spokesperson emphasized that the November rollout represents another crucial step in the brand's broader growth strategy.

"Opening 12 new restaurants in November is another exciting milestone in Raising Cane's continued growth as we expand our footprint to even more communities across the country," a company spokesperson said. "From highly anticipated openings in new markets like Sioux Falls, Brick, and Fayetteville to growing our presence in communities nationwide, we're continuing to establish Cane's as a go-to destination for craveable chicken fingers from coast to coast."

The November schedule features debuts in several fresh markets, including its first-time locations in Brick, New Jersey; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Additional restaurants are opening throughout Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Utah. While the brand now manages roughly 1,000 locations across the country, its heaviest concentration remains in states like Texas with 201 stores, California with 147, Ohio with 65, and Louisiana with 63.

The enthusiasm surrounding new locations remains high among devoted fans, often referred to as "Caniacs." Excitement was notably on display during a recent grand opening in Grandville, Michigan, where customers lined up as early as 3 a.m. to be among the first through the doors. "We have PSAT today, so I was like, we could skip it," one student waiting in line said. "Let's go get some chicken."

Despite its massive footprint and ranking as the 16th largest restaurant chain by sales, founder Todd Graves has publicly stated his ambition to break into the top 10 restaurant brands in the United States. To achieve this scale, the company has diversified its traditional suburban restaurant model by branching out into alternative venues, including its first airport location at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Founded in 1996 by Graves as a college student at Louisiana State University, Raising Cane's attributes much of its success to product simplicity. Rather than continually expanding its menu with diverse offerings, the chain maintains a sharp focus on its core items—chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, and Texas toast—allowing the company to streamline operations and maintain consistent food quality as it scales new markets.