Chicken restaurant seeks to open first Kettering location

Raising Cane’s would go in Far Hills location where other restaurants once operated.

Neighbors will get an opportunity to speak about a proposed new Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers when Kettering officials conduct a public hearing this week.

The Kettering Planning Commission’s hearing at 7 p.m. Monday focuses on Raising Cane’s proposed site near the Stroop Road and Far Hills Avenue intersection. At issue is whether to rezone one residential lot and two office lots to commercial status, which developers feel is required to make the project work.

“It is a public hearing and Planning Commission will be taking public comment regarding the request,” said Kettering Planning and Development Director Tom Robillard.

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The site would include the former OinkADoodleMoo restaurant at 3910 Far Hills Avenue, which shut down in August 2015 after failing to re-negotiate its lease. The space previously housed a Chipotle restaurant and, decades earlier, the Kettering Village Inn.

The Raising Cane’s fast-food chain continues to grow in the region.

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In 2004, the franchisee opened the first Raising Cane’s outside of Louisiana when it launched its first Ohio location in Columbus. Michael Williams, marketing advisor for Raising Cane’s Ohio, said in an email that the franchise is always looking for ways to grow.

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“Raising Cane’s is continuously evaluating opportunities to grow restaurants all over the world, and especially in Ohio,” Williams said. “Many factors go into our decisions, and ever-changing market conditions can affect planned locations and launch dates. We will make a public announcement if and when an official expansion decision has been made.”

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The first Dayton-area Raising Cane’s location opened last summer at 1136 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in Washington Twp., and the opening date for its second Dayton-area location at 4384 Indian Ripple Road across from The Greene Town Center in Beavercreek is Oct. 30. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based chain operates multiple restaurants in the Columbus and Cincinnati areas.

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In March, a location opened in Deerfield Twp. at 3901 Montgomery Road, and there is a West Chester Raising Cane’s at 7721 Tylersville Road (the first Cincinnati-area location). The franchise has a total of 10 Greater Cincinnati locations.

The chain prides itself on a limited menu and a simple concept, focused on chicken fingers, made “fresh, never frozen,” marinated for 24 hours, then hand-battered and cooked to order. Also featured on the menu are crinkle-cut fries, cole slaw, Texas Toast and sauces that are made in-house every day.

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Formed in 1996, “Raising Cane’s creates between 60 and 75 new jobs in a community at every grand opening along with as many as five members of a management team,” according to the company.

The restaurant chain’s Ohio franchisee is seeking to hire for multiple positions. Interviews will be scheduled through Oct. 16 at the Kettering Recreation Complex at 2900 Glengarry Drive in Kettering. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at caniaccareers.com.

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