A Raising Cane’s location. (Credit: Raising Cane’s/ Facebook)
Raising Cane’s, the fast casual chain restaurant known for its southern chicken dishes, is planning to demolish an existing restaurant building in the Brick Plaza shopping center and replace it with a new structure that will support drive-through lanes and on-site amenities.
The building within the plaza at 1036 Cedar Bridge Avenue, which previously housed Quaker Steak and Lube as well as Chevy’s Fresh Mex, would be torn down under a plan that will be heard by the township’s zoning board next month. According to a filing with the township, Raising Cane’s would construct an approximately 3,333 square foot restaurant with drive-thru lanes, parking areas and associated improvements if the plan passes muster with the board.
The plan for Raising Cane’s must receive a supermajority vote by zoning board members due to the need for what is known as a “D-3” variance. The restaurant building itself does not appear to create any significant zoning issues, however shopping centers as a whole are not normally permitted in the B-3 zone where the Brick Plaza property is located without meeting a number of conditions. Despite the plaza having already existed for decades, the construction of a new restaurant is technically considered an expansion of a non-permitted use if all of the conditions – in this case, a minimum front yard of 100-feet where 87 is proposed – are not met.
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The restaurant will also seek numerous minor “bulk” variances from the board with regard to impervious building coverage, signage and the position which garbage trucks must enter the facility due to its layout. Building coverage will remain largely the same as it did while the previous restaurant was standing, with 82 percent coverage proposed as opposed to 82.1 percent existing. The ordinance normally limits building coverage to 65 percent.
A Raising Cane’s location in Hawaii. (Credit: Raising Cane’s, Facebook)
With more than 700 locations, the fried chicken restaurant has primarily operated in the southern states, but began a foray into South Jersey over the past two years. Raising Cane’s is named for “Cane,” the yellow Labrador retriever owned by the company’s founder, who also serves as the company’s mascot.
The menu features a number of southern-style chicken finger dishes, large “tailgate” portions, fries, sides and sandwiches. The company is also known for its original iced tea recipe, which was the subject of a national advertising campaign last summer featuring the rapper and actor Ice-T.
The zoning board hearing will be held March 5, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the township municipal complex.
