[EXCLUSIVE] Raising Cane's Secures Third Site, Pushes Previously Planned Premieres

With two Raising Cane's locations already in the works for the greater metro Atlanta area, we have now confirmed a third!  Following announcements in Buford and Dacula, a third Raising Cane's is being planned for Woodstock.  The new restaurant would come to a roughly one acre parcel at 9887 and 9911 Highway 92.  The primary parcel was most recently home to a Velox insurance office but was built as a Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits.  

The future Raising Cane's when it operated as a Mrs. Winner's via LoopNet 

Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane's is seeking several variances from the City of Woodstock to build their roughly 2,700 square foot restaurant with drive-thru.  Their requests are due to be heard by the Planning Commission on December 1 and by the City Council on December 19.  

The Raising Cane's in Woodstock would also feature a roughly 900 square foot patio and seating for about 100 guests.  If approved as planned, Raising Cane's would be the latest quick-serve food addition to the area that has in recent years seen new locations of Chipotle, Popeyes, and Krispy Kreme debut as well as a rebuilt Truett's Chick-fil-A (formerly The Dwarf House) and soon, one of metro Atlanta's first Whataburger restaurants.  

ToNeTo Atlanta first broke news of Raising Cane's planned entry into the greater metro Atlanta area this past December with news that they would open in Buford near the Mall of Georgia in place of Arby's.  In the nearly year since then, the Arby's has closed and the property has been cleared, but despite having been told in July that Raising Cane's would open "November 8, 2022," a new building has yet to emerge and a restaurant contact now tells us the opening has been pushed to the far more vague "2023."  (It's unclear what precisely caused the delay, but heavy equipment on site and sources close to the restaurant indicate that there were issues with a retaining wall that may have derailed the earlier timeline.) 

The Dacula restaurant, which was previously slated to open November 29, is now targeting an "early 2023" opening, according to the same source.  Unlike the Buford restaurant, the Dacula restaurant is actively being built and from the looks of it, could very well open soon after the new year.  

Several real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Raising Cane's is actively evaluating multiple other sites in the greater metro Atlanta area for additional locations.  The chain is reportedly willing to pay "top dollar" to secure sites, but not landing anything ITP...yet.  For its part, Whataburger which is also making a big push into Georgia, has ten sites under development with the aforementioned Woodstock location and another in Kennesaw expected to open by the end of the year.  

Are you excited for the imminent opening of Raising Cane's in Dacula?  Where else in metro Atlanta would you like to see Raising Cane's open?  Who do you think makes the best chicken tender?

Please share your thoughts below.