The chicken sandwich wars are about to heat up (again) with the arrival of a new player: Raising Cane’s.
The popular chicken finger chain will make its Northern Virginia debut on Tuesday, December 13, in the Dulles Eastern Plaza shopping center off Atlantic Boulevard — diagonal from a Chick-fil-A location. The new Sterling restaurant will serve chicken fingers and chicken sandwiches, along with crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, sweet tea, and its proprietary Cane’s Sauce.
The popular chain opened its first location in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and today is quickly approaching 700 restaurants in over 35 states and Guam. It was named one of America’s fastest-growing fast-food chains this year by QSR magazine, which covers quick-service and fast-casual restaurants. And, fun fact, its namesake is an adorable Labrador retriever named Cane and his successors of the same name.
Until now, the closest Raising Cane’s restaurants were in Charlottesville and Richmond, but the company said earlier this year it’s planning to open multiple locations from suburban Baltimore to the Richmond area, with NoVA stores planned for Manassas, Dumfries, and Springfield, according to the Washington Business Journal.
“We’re excited to be adding Sterling and the DC area as a whole to the Raising Cane’s family,” said William Scholzen, area leader of restaurants, in a press release. “We are passionate about making great food, serving others and being an active part of the community. There’s a reason why people love our food, our brand and everything that Cane’s is about and we’re eager to show the DMV why!”
The first 100 people in line on opening day will get a free Raising Cane’s T-shirt and a Box Combo on their next visit. (Better bundle up, though, because Tuesday morning’s temperatures are expected to be below freezing.) Additionally, customers age 13 and older can enter to be one of 20 lucky winners to get free Raising Cane’s food for a year. Entries for the free grub will be accepted between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and winners will be announced before 9 a.m. (You must be present to win.)
To celebrate its debut in the region, Raising Cane’s also said it will donate $1,000 to Veterans Moving Forward, a Dulles-based nonprofit that provides service dogs and canine therapy services to veterans with physical and/or mental health challenges, at no cost to veterans.
The Sterling restaurant expects to create 150 jobs for crewmembers and is still hiring, with pay starting at $16/hour. To apply, visit www.jobs.raisingcanes.com or text RCJOBS to 97211.
Raising Cane’s will serve customers from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. 45545 Dulles Eastern Plz., Sterling
Feature image courtesy Raising Cane’s
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