LYNNWOOD—Snohomish County residents will soon have their first Raising Cane’s restaurant when the fast-growing chicken finger chain opens a new location in Lynnwood later this month, bringing the company’s signature menu and the first Seattle-area Raising Cane’s drive-thru to the region.
The restaurant, which will be located at 1232 164th Street Southwest, is scheduled to open June 23 and marks another step in the company’s continued expansion across Washington state. The Lynnwood location will be Raising Cane’s fourth restaurant in Washington and its first ever in Snohomish County.
The upcoming location will also introduce the brand’s first drive-thru restaurant in the Seattle metropolitan area. It will feature a double-lane drive-thru designed to handle customer demand and improve service speed, the company says.
Situated just off Interstate 5 across from Martha Lake, the restaurant is expected to draw customers from throughout Snohomish County as well as neighboring communities in north King County.
The opening comes as Raising Cane’s continues a period of rapid growth that has transformed the company from a single Louisiana restaurant into one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in North America.
Founded in 1996 by entrepreneur Todd Graves, Raising Cane’s has built its reputation around a deliberately simple menu focused almost entirely on chicken fingers. Unlike many competitors that have expanded into dozens of menu categories, the company has remained committed to a limited selection that includes hand-battered chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw and its signature Cane’s Sauce.
That focused approach has helped fuel the chain’s rise over nearly three decades.
Today, Raising Cane’s operates more than 1,000 restaurants across more than 40 states and several international markets. Company officials have said they plan to open nearly 100 additional restaurants in 2026 as the brand continues to expand into new communities.
The company’s origins have become a well-known part of its corporate story.
According to Raising Cane’s, Graves developed the concept while attending college, where a business plan centered on a chicken finger restaurant reportedly received the lowest grade in his class. Banks repeatedly rejected his efforts to secure financing for the concept, forcing him to find alternative ways to fund the venture.
Graves spent months working as a boilermaker in California and later joined a commercial fishing operation in Alaska to save enough money to open his first restaurant. The original location opened near Louisiana State University on Aug. 28, 1996.
As the story goes, the restaurant was named after Graves’ yellow Labrador retriever, Raising Cane.
Nearly 30 years later, the company continues to serve essentially the same menu that launched the brand.
The Lynnwood restaurant represents the latest chapter in that growth story and reflects increasing demand for chicken-focused fast-casual and quick-service concepts across the country.
For local residents, the opening also represents the arrival of a highly anticipated restaurant brand that has developed a loyal following throughout the United States.
The company plans to celebrate the grand opening with a series of promotional events and community-focused activities.
Among the planned festivities, 20 customers will receive “Free Cane’s for a Year,” a giveaway that has become a signature feature of many Raising Cane’s openings nationwide.
The company also plans to host community giveback initiatives as part of the celebration.
Beyond the opening-day festivities, company officials say the Lynnwood restaurant will seek to establish relationships with local schools, nonprofit organizations and youth sports programs through sponsorship opportunities and fundraising partnerships.
Those efforts are part of Raising Cane’s broader community engagement strategy, which emphasizes local involvement in the markets where the company operates.
While the primary focus of the opening is bringing the restaurant to Snohomish County, the new location will also create more than 170 jobs.
The company has been recruiting employees for a variety of positions, including cashiers, customer service associates and kitchen staff members.
“Crewmembers are at the center of everything we do at Raising Cane’s,” said Raising Cane’s Restaurant Leader Tay Hicks. “As we prepare to open our fourth Restaurant in Washington and first in Lynnwood, we’re excited to build a strong team that’s passionate about delivering great Customer experiences. Whether someone is looking for their first job or a long-term career, Raising Cane’s offers real opportunities to grow, flexible schedules and a culture that truly supports its Crew.”
According to the company, starting wages begin at $17.50 per hour. Interviews have been taking place at the new restaurant ahead of the opening.
The Lynnwood location joins a growing list of Raising Cane’s restaurants in Washington as the company expands its footprint in the Pacific Northwest.
When doors open June 23, customers can expect the menu that has defined the brand since its founding nearly three decades ago: chicken fingers cooked to order, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw and the company’s signature Cane’s Sauce.
The opening will also mark a milestone for the chain’s growth in the Pacific Northwest, bringing its first Snohomish County restaurant and first Seattle-area drive-thru location to a community that company officials hope will become an important part of Raising Cane’s continued expansion in Washington.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
