Raising Cane’s newest restaurant, located at 2505 Richmond Road, just a mile north of I-30, marks its 67th in Texas and the 208th overall across 18 states.
Grand opening festivities kicked off at 9:30 a.m with a ribbon-cutting ceremony compliments of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and other local dignitaries. Doors opened at 10 a.m.
Visitors to the ceremonies were in for a treat, as 50-60 newly hired crewmembers performed their traditional cheers and other high-energy chants to launch the new location in unique Cane’s fashion. The first 100 paying, dine-in customers received a commemorative Texarkana Cane’s T-shirt, along with a voucher for a free Box Combo.
With the Louisiana-based chain’s ONE LOVE® – quality chicken finger meals – going gangbusters in cities like Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Lubbock and El Paso – which will also welcome its first Cane’s this Thursday – local residents are anxious to find out what all the fuss is about, said General Manager Lindsey Hibbard.
“I’m just as eager to open our doors as the rest of Texarkana. Having moved here from Marshall not too long ago, I spent my first year of training at Raising Cane’s restaurants in Longview and Louisiana, so I’m proud to say that this is my first Cane’s as well,” Hibbard said. “Local Caniacs have been ecstatic about this opening for the past several months. I know they’ll be lined up outside on opening day, and I can’t wait to introduce a whole new group of Caniacs to our ONE LOVE!”
Raising Cane’s mission extends beyond the kitchen and into the community with each grand opening, and the new Texarkana location is certainly no exception. Last week, Hibbard and her fellow crewmembers rolled up their sleeves at nearby Runnin’ WJ Ranch to help clean and organize the nonprofit group’s facilities, which provide therapeutic equine services to disabled children in the area.
“Active support of our local communities is a huge part of Raising Cane’s DNA, so you’ll be seeing a lot more involvement like this from us in Texarkana’s schools and other nonprofit organizations over the coming months and years,” Hibbard said. “We look forward to keeping the momentum going as our community-focused culture takes root throughout this vibrant city.”
Cane’s restaurants nationwide are also marking the holiday season in style by partnering with the iconic Warner Bros. classic, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Cute and cuddly collectible plush puppies in the likeness of Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie can be purchased at any Raising Cane’s location for $8.99 each, with net proceeds being donated to local pet welfare organizations.
Founded by Todd Graves in 1996 and named for his yellow Labrador, Raising Cane, the rapidly growing concept was ranked among the top three quick service restaurant chains in the nation for 2013, according to the authoritative Sandelman & Associates Quick-Track study, based on food quality, customer service, cleanliness and other important factors.
Hours of operation for the Texarkana restaurant will be Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight.
Sonic on Summerhill Rd. opened for business today at 10 a.m. also.
