SAN JOSE, CALIF.— Raising Cane’s opening was prevalent, seen with the massive crowd and line that extended in the Costco Business Plaza and gas station. 

Opening on April 1, people camped outside the night before to be among the first 500 to receive a gift card and a complimentary Raising Cane’s hat.

Raising Cane’s is known for its simple menu: chicken fingers, fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and their notorious Cane’s Sauce. The restaurant focuses on quality over variety, and many customers say the sauce is what brings the chicken together.

”The line was so long for mid food,” as Reign Ilusorio, a freshman at Silver Creek High stated. Long lines have been present since opening day, with the restaurant getting especially busy on weekends. Weekday lunch and dinner hours also have a lot of traffic. Current hours are around 10 a.m. to midnight, but they may vary. The days that pack the place are when the schools around this area have events, such as sporting events or shows. 

Service at the new location has been fast-paced, especially for the number of customers they get, and employee service has been very friendly, having a welcoming experience.”When I went, the line was too long and the food was okay,” Tuan Tu, a sophomore at Silver Creek High, said. They try to focus on the quality, but with the place being so filled all the time, it may vary on how the food tastes.

The company was founded by Todd Graves in 1996 and has since expanded across the country. There’s no official word yet on whether more San Jose locations will open, but based on the hype that happened on this day, it’s possible. Even before this location was open, people around the area were always talking about Cane’s, so when a new Cane’s opens, it most likely has a lot more hype around it.

As of now, the San Jose Cane’s is still hiring. Some say the job can be demanding, especially with all the people in the place, but others notice the fast pace helps the day go by quickly. And of course, having this many customers is good since it brings business and profit.

In addition to the menu and service, Raising Cane’s is known for getting involved in the community. With the potential for local events and sponsorships, this new location will likely start participating in community activities that can involve the customers or be with its customers. This could help further establish its presence in San Jose beyond just being a go-to restaurant.

Overall, the new Raising Cane’s has made a good impression in San Jose, and it’ll be interesting to see how things get better as the excitement of the grand opening starts to get more calm. With its good start, supportive community, and its future, Raising Cane’s seems like it will become a regular spot for people of San Jose.