Raising Cane’s, the Louisiana-based chicken finger chain, will open seven new restaurants across the United States in October, continuing a rapid expansion that has already brought several dozen new locations this year. The Raising Cane’s October openings will bring the chain’s footprint to 998 locations as it pushes toward a goal of 1,600 restaurants by the end of the decade.
The openings, first reported this month, stretch from Wisconsin to California. Three of the seven restaurants will be the chain’s first locations in their respective cities, while the rest strengthen its presence in markets it already serves.
FAKTA
- What: Raising Cane’s will open seven new restaurants in October 2026.
- New cities: Wausau (Wisconsin), Springfield (Oregon) and Macon (Georgia) get their first Raising Cane’s locations.
- Total footprint: More than 980 locations across 44 states, the District of Columbia and Guam today; 998 after the October openings.
- Long-term goal: 1,600 restaurants by the end of the decade, in every state and all major US cities.
- Menu: Hand-battered chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Cane’s Toast, Cane’s Sauce and fresh-squeezed lemonade — largely unchanged since 1996.
Raising Cane’s October openings: the full schedule
Here are the seven scheduled openings, with dates and addresses:
| Date | City, State | Address |
|---|---|---|
| October 5 | Wausau, Wisconsin | 226422 Rib Mountain Drive |
| October 12 | San Francisco, California | 255 Winston Drive |
| October 12 | Goleta, California | 7000 Hollister Avenue |
| October 13 | Springfield, Oregon | 2720 Gateway Street |
| October 19 | Macon, Georgia | 4951 Riverside Drive |
| October 22 | Grandville, Michigan | 3980 Rivertown Mall Path |
| October 27 | Idaho Falls, Idaho | 2236 S. 25th E. |
First locations for Wausau, Springfield and Macon
For three cities — Wausau, Wisconsin; Springfield, Oregon; and Macon, Georgia — the October openings will be Raising Cane’s very first restaurants. The company says population density weighs heavily in its decisions about where and when it expands into new markets.
“Our restaurant openings are an exciting opportunity for Raising Cane’s to connect with customers and become part of the local community,” a company representative said in a statement. “This fall, we’re looking forward to welcoming guests in Wausau, Springfield and Macon for the first time, while continuing to build on the incredible relationships we’ve created with Caniacs in markets we already call home.”
None of the October openings bring the chain into a new state. That is expected to change with upcoming projects: the chain’s website lists a first South Dakota location in Sioux Falls among its “coming soon” projects, along with Fairbanks (Alaska), Los Angeles (California), North Miami Beach (Florida) and Fayetteville (North Carolina).
Nearly 1,000 restaurants and counting
Raising Cane’s currently operates more than 980 restaurants across 44 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. Once the seven October locations open their doors, the total will reach 998.
The October schedule caps a busy year for the chain, which opened several dozen restaurants already this year — including six in September alone.
As of September, five states are still waiting for their first Raising Cane’s: Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. The company has confirmed it plans to expand to “every state and all major cities across the US,” with a stated goal of 1,600 restaurants by the end of the decade.
What is on the Raising Cane’s menu
The chain’s menu has stayed largely unchanged since it first opened in 1996. It centers on hand-battered, cooked-to-order chicken fingers, served with crinkle-cut fries, Cane’s Toast, the signature Cane’s Sauce and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
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Conclusion
With seven openings in October and a pipeline that includes its first South Dakota restaurant, Raising Cane’s is pushing rapidly toward the 1,000-location milestone. Whether the simple, unchanged-since-1996 menu can keep fueling that growth is one of the restaurant industry’s most watched stories heading into 2027.
