Raising Cane's to Open First Bay Area Location
What happened
Fast-food chain Raising Cane's, known for its chicken fingers, is set to open its first location in the Bay Area. The restaurant will be a flagship store located at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, occupying a large space on Jefferson Street near Pier 39.
Why it matters
- The Fisherman's Wharf location is part of a broader, aggressive expansion into the Bay Area, which includes recently opened restaurants in Colma, Oakland, and Hayward, as well as planned locations for the Stonestown Galleria and Berkeley. - The company is on a significant growth trajectory, having surpassed 940 locations in the U.S. by early 2026, with California being a key market with 129 stores. The chain's goal is to operate over 1,600 restaurants nationwide and become a top 10 U.S. restaurant brand by the end of the decade. - Financially, Raising Cane's demonstrates high performance, with average unit volumes (AUVs) reaching $6.2 million on a trailing-12-months basis as of mid-2024, a figure that is 2.3 times the quick-service restaurant average. For the full year 2024, sales per store climbed to $6.6 million, with total system-wide sales hitting $5.1 billion. - The new flagship restaurant is part of a larger revitalization effort in Fisherman's Wharf, which is working to fill vacancies left by legacy establishments. Several other national and local brands, including a Taco Bell Cantina and Everett & Jones BBQ, are also part of this push to refresh the area. - Founder Todd Graves started the company in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after his business plan for a chicken-finger-only restaurant received the lowest grade in his college class. He worked as a boilermaker and a commercial fisherman in Alaska to raise the initial capital himself. - The company's focused menu, often referred to as "One Love," consists of chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and a signature Cane's Sauce. This simplicity is a core part of the business strategy, aimed at ensuring quality and operational efficiency. - This expansion comes as the fast-food chicken segment continues to grow, with U.S. chicken QSRs seeing nearly 9% growth in 2024, significantly outpacing the growth of burger chains. - The Fisherman's Wharf location will be near a high-traffic In-N-Out Burger, placing two popular, cult-favorite fast-food chains in close proximity within a major tourist hub.
Key numbers
- The restaurant will be a flagship store located at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, occupying a large space on Jefferson Street near Pier 39.
- The company is on a significant growth trajectory, having surpassed 940 locations in the U.S.
- by early 2026, with California being a key market with 129 stores.
- The chain's goal is to operate over 1,600 restaurants nationwide and become a top 10 U.S.
What happens next
- Founder Todd Graves started the company in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after his business plan for a chicken-finger-only restaurant received the lowest grade in his college class.
- The Fisherman's Wharf location will be near a high-traffic In-N-Out Burger, placing two popular, cult-favorite fast-food chains in close proximity within a major tourist hub.
- Fast-food chain Raising Cane's, known for its chicken fingers, is set to open its first location in the Bay Area.
Quick answers
What happened in Raising Cane's to Open First Bay Area Location?
Fast-food chain Raising Cane's, known for its chicken fingers, is set to open its first location in the Bay Area. The restaurant will be a flagship store located at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, occupying a large space on Jefferson Street near Pier 39.
Why does Raising Cane's to Open First Bay Area Location matter?
The Fisherman's Wharf location is part of a broader, aggressive expansion into the Bay Area, which includes recently opened restaurants in Colma, Oakland, and Hayward, as well as planned locations for the Stonestown Galleria and Berkeley. The company is on a significant growth trajectory, having surpassed 940 locations in the U.S. by early 2026, with California being a key market with 129 stores. The chain's goal is to operate over 1,600 restaurants nationwide and become a top 10 U.S. restaurant brand by the end of the decade. Financially, Raising Cane's demonstrates high performance, with average unit volumes (AUVs) reaching $6.2 million on a trailing-12-months basis as of mid-2024, a figure that is 2.3 times the quick-service restaurant average. For the full year 2024, sales per store climbed to $6.6 million, with total system-wide sales hitting $5.1 billion. The new flagship restaurant is part of a larger revitalization effort in Fisherman's Wharf, which is working to fill vacancies left by legacy establishments. Several other national and local brands, including a Taco Bell Cantina and Everett & Jones BBQ, are also part of this push to refresh the area. Founder Todd Graves started the company in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after his business plan for a chicken-finger-only restaurant received the lowest grade in his college class. He worked as a boilermaker and a commercial fisherman in Alaska to raise the initial capital himself. The company's focused menu, often referred to as "One Love," consists of chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and a signature Cane's Sauce. This simplicity is a core part of the business strategy, aimed at ensuring quality and operational efficiency. This expansion comes as the fast-food chicken segment continues to grow, with U.S. chicken QSRs seeing nearly 9% growth in 2024, significantly outpacing the growth of burger chains. The Fisherman's Wharf location will be near a high-traffic In-N-Out Burger, placing two popular, cult-favorite fast-food chains in close proximity within a major tourist hub.
