Raising Cane’s opens new Statesboro location

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - Raising Cane’s celebrated the grand opening of its newest location Monday in Statesboro.

The restaurant, located on Highway 80 near Veterans Memorial Parkway, marks Cane’s first location in the Coastal Empire. The opening comes four days before the chain’s 30th anniversary.

Over 100 customers lined the outside of the new location Monday. The first customer arrived before 5 a.m. to get the first look and taste of the restaurant.

Grand opening ceremony

The grand opening ceremony started at 9 a.m., with doors opening at 10 a.m.

Once the ribbon was cut and the doors opened, the first customer in line was given a celebratory welcome, along with a free box combo meal and a gift basket.

The first 100 customers in line also received a free box combo meal and a trucker hat.

Twenty raffle winners received free chicken for a year, which amounts to up to three free box combo meals a month.

Ben Hunter, a Georgia Southern student, was one of the raffle winners.

“I’ll probably be here at least three times a month, probably more,” Hunter said.

Not every customer walked away with extra perks. One couple, Caleb and Huney, arrived Sunday night but slept through their alarm.

“I spent the night in the parking lot, should’ve been the first in line,” Caleb said. “I love Cane’s, ever since I had the first time, I want it all the time.”

Throughout the day, a steady line formed in the drive-thru as customers looked to get chicken fingers.

Local partnerships

At the ceremony, Cane’s highlighted its local partnerships. The Cane’s team gave Georgia Southern’s Center for Wildlife Education a $1,000 check.

About 170 locally hired crewmembers work at the location.

Joey Baylor, Raising Cane’s restaurant leader, spoke about the new location.

“Serving those cravable chicken fingers and you know just really putting the smiles on our customer’s face, that’s what we do here,” Baylor said.

The new restaurant features an extra-large dining room with space for residents, Georgia Southern students, Eagles fans, families and friends, along with local decorations celebrating the Statesboro community.

With thousands of Georgia Southern students in the city, Eagles believe the chain location will be a hit.

“I mean out of all the chicken spots I’ve been to Cane’s has the best sauce, so I feel like it is definitely going to be popular,” Hunter said.

Before the grand opening, the closest Cane’s locations to the Coastal Empire were in Albany, Georgia, or Charleston, South Carolina.