Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers opened 7 new restaurants across six states in August 2026, its 30th anniversary month. The brand debuted near Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge on August 28, 1996, and has since grown past 1,000 US units. It is on pace to open nearly 100 domestic restaurants in 2026 alone.
Raising Cane’s was founded by Todd Graves and has built its model around a deliberately narrow menu: chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and the chain’s signature Cane’s Sauce. That focused approach has generated a loyal following, with the brand’s devoted customers known internally as “Caniacs.”
After crossing its 1,000th restaurant milestone in March 2026, an opening on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, the company has continued to add new locations at a consistent pace.
Raising Cane’s began offering franchise agreements around 2000, shortly after its 1996 founding, but discontinued the program after a brief period. Since then, the brand has grown exclusively through corporate-owned units. A small number of legacy franchise partners from that early era continue to operate existing locations, but no new franchise agreements have been available in over two decades. For a full overview of the brand’s ownership model and historical investment figures, L’Express Franchise has published a dedicated guide: Can You Open a Raising Cane’s Franchise?
Seven New Restaurants, Six States: Raising Cane’s August Openings
“August is a meaningful month for Raising Cane’s as we celebrate our 30th birthday and reflect on how far we’ve come since opening our first Restaurant in 1996,” Raising Cane’s said in a statement. The seven new locations opened on staggered dates throughout the month:
- August 3: Novi, Michigan (26245 Novi Road)
- August 3: Rocky Mount, North Carolina (1010 N. Wesleyan Blvd.)
- August 10: Thousand Oaks, California (400 N. Moorpark Road)
- August 17: Fontana, California (16940 Slover Ave.)
- August 17: Linden, New Jersey (801 W. Edgar Road)
- August 24: Tuscaloosa, Alabama (1241 McFarland Blvd. E.)
- August 24: Statesboro, Georgia (24087 US-80)
August also saw three existing locations reopen after remodeling, in Lexington, Kentucky; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Gahanna, Ohio. The new openings and renovations reflect the brand’s parallel strategy of expanding its footprint while refreshing established units.
65 New US Restaurants Through August, With More Planned
The August openings brought Raising Cane’s total new US restaurant count for 2026 to 65. The pace has varied: February saw the most activity with 13 new units, followed by June with 12. California has been the chain’s most active expansion market this year, with restaurants opening in markets including Downey, Apple Valley, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, San Jose, Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks, and Fontana, among others. The brand also opened one international location in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in March.
The company has stated a target of nearly 100 new US restaurants for the full calendar year 2026, which points to approximately 30 to 35 additional openings in the final four months of the year. Raising Cane’s has not released a complete schedule for locations planned through December.
A 1,600-Restaurant Long-Term Target and a Growing International Presence
Raising Cane’s has outlined a long-term goal of operating more than 1,600 US restaurants and becoming one of the country’s 10 largest restaurant brands by the end of the decade. The brand has also begun extending beyond the US: in addition to the Jeddah opening, a flagship location in London’s West End is planned for 2026, which would mark the brand’s first European address.
The 30th anniversary year is shaping up as one of the most significant in the company’s history in terms of unit growth, milestone openings, and geographic reach.
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