The latest on Rockford's Raising Cane's: From dual drive-thrus to when it hopes to open

Jim Hagerty, Rockford Register Star
·3 min read
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The popular chicken finger franchise Raising Cane's took its first steps toward opening a store in Rockford Tuesday by asking to tear down the former Stone Eagle Tavern.

The Rockford Zoning Board of Appeals voted 7-0 to allow Raising Cane’s Restaurants, LLC to demolish the existing building at 6445 E. State St., so it can build its own restaurant building with a drive-thru.

"I think it will be good for Rockford," said board member Tom Fabiano. "It's always good to see new business."

Even though the 1.8-acre property is in a C-2 Limited Commercial Zoning District, which allows for restaurants, drive-thru operations require a special use permit from the city.

The now-vacant Stone Eagle Tavern, seen here Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 6445 E. State St. in Rockford, would be demolished as part of a plan to open a Raising Cane's chicken finger restaurant on the site.
The now-vacant Stone Eagle Tavern, seen here Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 6445 E. State St. in Rockford, would be demolished as part of a plan to open a Raising Cane's chicken finger restaurant on the site.

More: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers wants to open in Rockford

Once the vacant Stone Eagle is demolished, Raising Cane's would add a 3,225-square-foot quick-serve restaurant that employs about 55 people. There will be dual drive-thru lanes, more than 40 parking spaces, an outdoor seating area, green space, a bike rack and new landscaping.

"Raising Cane's is really excited to come to Rockford to expand the greater Chicago market," said Sarah Holmes, property development manager for HD Group, the development company that's representing the chain on the project. "There is a need in this location, and this a perfect opportunity for Raising Cane's to partner with the community."

Raising Cane's purchased the building on March 7 from AMC Development, something city officials say shows the company is committed to Rockford.

"They're committed for sure," said Rockford Planning and Zoning Manager Scott Capovilla. "They are paying to demolish the (existing) building, agreed to put sidewalks in (on East State Street and Trainer Road) or put up cash-in-lieu. It's a strong application."

The project is scheduled to break ground in March 2025 and open the following October.

Holmes said they could break ground and open sooner, depending on whether the project will be subject to requirements from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The restaurant plans to be open 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday.

"That's partly due to being open for emergency services," Holmes said. "Cane's really does want to provide an option to workers that do have midnight shifts and our (first) responders."

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers was founded in 1996 after college students Todd Graves and Craig Silvey wrote a business plan for a restaurant that serves only chicken fingers that was eventually turned in as a class project.

Although the plan received a C-minus grade, Graves obtained a loan through the Small Business Association to build his first restaurant, naming it Raising Cane's after his golden retriever that always accompanied him to the construction site.

With a focused menu of chicken fingers, coleslaw, fries and Texas toast, the company now has more than 700 locations in five countries and employs more than 50,000 people.

The Raising Cane's plan is scheduled to go in front of the Code and Regulation Committee on March 25. From there it will be forwarded on for a full city council vote.

Jim Hagerty writes news stories for the Rockford Register Star. Email him at jhagerty@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Raising Cane's clears zoning hurdle in bid to open in Rockford