Tag: Todd Graves

Neighborhood News Publisher & Local Realtors® Donate A Prize To First-In-Line Sisters!

Raising Cane’s, the Baton Rouge, LA-based fast casual fried chicken chain founded by Todd Graves in 1996 that serves only fried chicken fingers (also available on a sandwich), crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and cole slaw (below right), opened as previously announced in the print editions of the Neighborhood News on Jan. 28 at 25952 S.R. 56, Lutz, next to Rock & Brews. And, based on the crowds that were still filling the parking lot more than a week later, we know people are excited about it!

Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I were there on opening day and we also attended the restaurant’s soft pre-opening VIP event  on Jan. 27 — and I have to say that we were all pretty impressed. Yes, the menu is simple, but it’s done right — the chicken fingers are lightly seasoned (NOT at all spicy!), super-crispy outside and moist on the inside. The fries also are crispy and tasty (and seemingly not seasoned, other than lightly salted, which I appreciate), the Texas toast is legit and the cole slaw is creamy and has just a hint of sweetness. 

If you only like spicy chicken, this is not the place for you, as even the Thousand Island-style “Cane’s sauce” offers no heat at all. But, if you like your chicken extra crispy and tasty, Raising Cane’s is definitely worth visiting!

As for opening day, 20 of the first 100 people in line (photo) on Jan. 28 received free Raising Cane’s for a year, but yours truly was saddened by the fact that Wesley Chapel residents (and sisters) Scarlett Sponberg and Fallon Fields (photo below), who arrived before 3 a.m. on the 28th in order to be first in line, were not among those “Grand Prize” winners. 

Even though Raising Cane’s marketing rep Stephanie Wielinski (in red in photo below) made it clear to everyone on line that being first didn’t guarantee receiving one of the top prizes, Realtors® Chad and April Emory of Emorys Rock Realty (visit EmorysRockRealty.com) and I didn’t think that was fair, so we went ahead and purchased enough gift cards to cover one year of free Raising Cane’s for those dedicated young ladies 

(l.-r. In top photo) Neighborhood News publisher Gary Nager, Scarlett Spongberg, Fallon Fields & Realtor® April Emory of Emorys Rock Realty)

Scarlett did receive a nice gift basket for being first in line, but April, Chad and I felt that just wasn’t enough for her and her sister!

Raising Cane’s gets props for providing a check for $1,000 to Wiregrass Ranch High (photo below), which brought along its cheerleading squad and other athletes to celebrate the donation.   

For more info about Raising Cane’s, call (813) 559-3590 or visit RaisingCanes.com — and please tell them I sent you! — GN