The wait is officially over for Loveland’s caniacs.
, which welcomed its first customers Monday morning at 4363 Opalite Drive in Loveland, in fried chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries and Texas toast.
To kick off the opening of the worldwide chain in Loveland, Raising Cane’s had giveaways, a raffle for free meals for an entire year, a ceremonial ribbon cutting with restaurant and city leaders, and gifts and coupons for the first 100 ordered box combos, a meal that includes four chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Cane’s sauce, Texas toast, coleslaw, and a drink.
Most attendees said they were excited to no longer make the hour-long roundtrip to Fort Collins, where the next closest Raising Cane’s location is, including Loveland Mayor Pat McFall.
“We would like to welcome you to Loveland. You have given us one more reason not to drive to Fort Collins,” McFall said, and the crowd laughed and cheered in response.
The first customer of the day, 16-year-old Ben Canaga, commonly referred to as the “Duke of Cane’s” by his family and friends, said receiving the first chicken fingers of the location was worth it after his long night waiting in line.
“I was so unprepared I didn’t have any of my stuff with me … itap been crazy, minimal sleeping hours for sure,” Ben said, adding that he was happy to have his 15-year-old cousin by his side, who was the second person in line. The two of them played video games, walked around, and went to the neighboring fast-food restaurant, McDonald’s, Ben said.
Raising Cane’s is Ben’s favorite restaurant of all time, he said, adding that he was excited to get a gift basket with Cane’s merchandise that he planned on sharing with his cousin. Ben, who frequented the Fort Collins location at least once a week with his friends, said he was looking forward to having an option close to home.
“We are going to have all the Cane’s,” he said.
The Loveland location marks the 22nd in Colorado for the fast-food chain that started in Louisiana, said area leader Jade Gale.
“The community has been so warm and inviting,” he said in an interview, adding that in anticipation of the opening, Raising Cane’s staff dropped off jugs of sweet tea and lemonade to nearby businesses. “ … We don’t just want to be a restaurant in the community, we want to be a community restaurant.”
The building came together in about nine months, Gale said, adding that a warmer than usual Colorado winter allowed the opening to happen a few weeks earlier than planned. The inside is adorned with memorabilia from local sports teams, schools, and other Colorado classics like Rocky Mountain National Park.
The location will become one of Loveland’s few late-night options; Raising Cane’s is open 10-1 a.m. during the week, and 10-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
A few supporters of PETA, , had a nearby display of a woman hung upside down to represent how chickens are killed and offered a vegan starter kit to anyone interested. Matthew Braun, senior manager of grassroots and activism for the organization, said the Raising Cane’s opening neglected the many chickens on farms in inhumane conditions.
“These animals are bred to grow so big, so fast, and they are crammed by the thousands into tiny sheds … no secret sauce can hide the suffering, but the solution is simple, go vegan,” Braun said.
A couple hundred people attended the grand opening, including Loveland resident Cory Runnells, who said he hadn’t had a Raising Cane’s location this close to where he’s lived since trying the fried chicken fingers 12 years ago in Lincoln, Nebraska. Since then he has moved a few times and done what it takes to taste his favorite meal, he said.
“When I lived in Indiana, the closest Cane’s was in Ohio. So I drove there and ordered like 20 sauce cups,” he said, adding that he dips anything in Cane’s sauce at home.
Runnells said that he feels seen by the company with the opening of the Loveland location in his own neighborhood.
“Look at this, I am definitely seen,” the self-proclaimed Cane’s lover said pointing to the crowd. “I love being close.”
