One of the country’s fastest-growing restaurant chains is set to open in Dover, its second Delaware location, bringing more than 100 jobs.
A Raising Cane’s has been built on the former site of Boston Market at 1151 N. Dupont Highway (Route 13 North) next to Grotto Pizza, across the highway from Delaware State University.
The Dover Boston Market opened in 1996, closed in 2023 and was later demolished.
The new Raising Cane's is about 3,300 square feet inside with a 1,200-square-foot outdoor patio and a drive-thru.
As for the opening date, a company spokesperson would only say “later this fall” in response to two requests from Delaware Online/The News Journal. However, Bay to Bay News reported an opening date of Oct. 7.
An estimated 140 people will be hired to staff the restaurant, the spokesperson said.
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In the top 50 fast-food chains by sales revenue, Raising Cane’s ranked in the top 20 and was also in the top 20 in growth by number of locations, according to an Aug. 1, 2025, report on the QSR Magazine website. QSR covers the quick-service restaurant industry.
With growth in locations of 101 from 2023 to 2024, Raising Cane’s was 13th, right behind McDonald’s with 102. That's the number of new locations minus any locations that closed.
The top five on the list were Starbucks with growth of 589 locations, Krispy Krunchy Chicken with 325, Jersey Mike’s with 313, Wingstop with 278 and Chipotle with 273.
In sales in 2024, Raising Cane’s ranked 16th with $4.960 billion, one spot lower than Sonic with $5.384 billion.
The top five on the sales revenue list were McDonald’s with $53.469 billion, Starbucks with $30.400 billion, Chick-fil-A with $22.746 billion, Taco Bell with $16.200 billion and Wendy’s with $12.554 billion.
What’s on the Raising Cane’s menu?
Raising Cane’s “one love” trademark refers to its passion for quality chicken finger meals, served “better than anyone else,” according to its website.
The chicken is marinated for 24 hours, hand battered and cooked to order.
The menu is unusually small in the restaurant business with just chicken fingers, a “secret recipe” dipping sauce, a chicken finger sandwich, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, freshly made coleslaw and drinks including its “famous” iced tea brewed fresh several times a day.
Origin of Raising Cane’s and expansion to over 800 locations
Todd Graves founded the chain in 1996 after his business plan received the lowest grade in a college class. His professor said a restaurant that served only chicken fingers wouldn’t work.
Graves pursued his dream, but couldn’t get a loan at first. So he worked at an oil refinery, then in the commercial fishing business to raise money.
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Finally with more help from a Small Business Administration loan, he renovated a building near Louisiana State University and opened the first Raising Cane’s, named after his dog.
The chain now has 879 restaurants in 42 states, Washington, D.C. and Guam according to its website, as of Sept. 3.
There’s one location in Delaware so far, in Newark in The Grove shopping center.
Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at [email protected].
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