Raising Cane’s has the Midas touch in Mount Prospect
A long line of customers waited well before the doors were open Tuesday to get their hands on the first chicken fingers served at the new Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Mount Prospect.
The location at 915 E. Rand Road opened for business at 10 a.m.
Opening ceremonies began at 9 a.m. with balloons, speakers pumping out loud music and guests, including members of Mount Prospect Cheer and the Prospect High School Marching Knights and Coop, the Schaumburg Boomers mascot.
During the festivities, several customers won a year of free chicken.
It represented a dramatic revival of what was considered a derelict site. For many years, it was the home of Century Tile. But the store closed, leaving many to wonder about its fate.
Fast forward to Tuesday, with a new drive-through restaurant adorned with landscaping.
Raising Cane’s, which began in 1994 and has more than 800 stores nationwide, has become a proven concept in the Northwest suburbs, with stores in Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights and now Mount Prospect.
“We love this area, love the community,” said Kevin Ryan, regional vice president. He called the Mount Prospect location “a big one,” although he pointed out, “They’re all important for us.”
“Every restaurant gets a name,” said Phil Brown, who will be the restaurant leader for the Mount Prospect restaurant. “This is going to be Mount Prospect’s Midas touch, because we are going to be golden in Mount Prospect.”
To prove its commitment to the community, Raising Cane’s presented a $1,000 check to the Prospect Band Boosters, which supports the Prospect High School Marching Knights.
A cloudless sky provided the perfect backdrop for an opening filled with sunny predictions for the future.
“I couldn’t be happier that there is a Cane’s sitting right on this spot, maybe one of the best spots for a restaurant in all of Mount Prospect,” said Mayor Paul Hoefert, cutting the ribbon. “With all the traffic, easy in and out, it’s going to be great.”
The road to village approval had been a bit rocky, with concern about a restaurant opening at the congested intersection of Central, Mount Prospect and Rand roads.
Neighbors especially were concerned about a proposed entrance on Albert Street. Bowing to neighborhood concerns, right turns onto Albert are prohibited.
“I’m thoroughly confident that’s been addressed, because, first off, this isn’t their first store,” Hoefert said. “They have stores in much more dense areas.”
He noted there are two drive-through lanes, with traffic mostly contained on the property. In addition to the left-turn only on Albert, there is a right-in, right-out entry/exit from Rand Road.
“They’re not going to want to create problems in the neighborhood,” he said.
Hoefert praised Raising Cane’s for enhancing the site with landscaping to buffer the restaurant from neighbors.
Debbie Wanner of Des Plaines, who works at nearby Menard’s, was among those in line Tuesday morning.
“It’s really good food. And I’m glad it came to Mount Prospect. (The chicken) is so tender, and the sauce is really good,” she said.
Kayla Smolinski of Arlington Heights was in line a little before 9 a.m. Tuesday.
“I think it’s more juicy. Definitely just tastier. They put love and care into it,” she said.