You’re seated at your table, a plate of hot, crispy chicken right in front of you, steam rising from the golden brown tenders. The chatter of customers buzzes around you as the scent of freshly fried chicken fills your nostrils, making your mouth water in anticipation.
Previously, students throughout Kalamazoo would have had to travel hours to get this type of authentic Raising Cane’s experience. However, a new development plan for a restaurant in Portage is set to change that.
Raising Cane’s, known for its simple menu centered around chicken fingers and signature Cane’s Sauce, is planning on expanding into the Kalamazoo area. While an official opening date is yet to be announced, the project has already gained traction throughout the community.
The Raising Canes website mentions that the chain was named after the founder’s yellow Labrador retriever, Raising Cane, who often accompanied him during construction. The dog became the brand’s official mascot, and the name stuck as a unique and personal tribute.
According to MLive, the restaurant will be located at 6202. S Westnedge Ave. Within the next ten years, Raising Cane’s is looking to add over 20 new locations in Michigan, and recently opened its second Michigan location in February.
One student from Milwood Middle School believes that Raising Cane’s will offer something new and different from the usual fast food options.
“People have kind of stopped going to places like KFC and Popeyes,” Auggie Richardson, an 8th grader at Milwood Middle School, said. “Raising Cane’s is on a level above, so it’s going to kind of outplay other chicken restaurants.”
While some share their excitement, the opening of a new Raising Cane’s restaurant has also sparked controversy. An article written by NowKalamazoo explains that the restaurant’s development plans were initially rejected. This was because the original plan involved demolishing two homes to make way for the chicken restaurant. Over a dozen people appeared at a Portage City Council meeting to oppose the restaurant’s opening.
Beyond that, MLive also states that four businesses must close or relocate to make room for Cane’s. The property owner, Meyer C. Weiner Company, has applied for a demolition permit. According to the article, maintenance and access issues have become difficult to manage, and redeveloping that corner has been in the works for about 14 years.
One restaurant set for demolition includes Rollup Ice Cream, a popular restaurant known for serving ice cream, along with bubble tea and chicken tenders. While Rollup Ice Cream was previously located on Westnedge Avenue, it has since been relocated to a new Gull Road location. This controversial move has ignited mixed discussions among students.
“At first, I was like ‘oh no’ when I heard some places would have to be moved. But when I heard it was Rollup Ice cream, I was happy since nobody goes there anyway,” Richardson said.
However, not every student was pleased with the change.
“I love Rollup so much. I was actually really sad when I found out about it moving,” freshman Zoe Newman said. “I’m not gonna go when it [Raising Cane’s] first opens. I don’t think Cane’s can compete with other restaurants, really. Not if it doesn’t have ice cream.”
Despite mixed reactions, it’s clear that Raising Cane’s has become a major talking point amongst students, establishing interest and conversation before even opening its doors.
