Properties for two upcoming Gloucester County Raising Cane’s restaurants (Glassboro, Washington Township) were demolished this week with construction expected to start soon.
I last updated on these two restaurants a month ago when the construction fencing was up ahead of the demolition effort and shared updates on projected openings.
At that time I also called out they already have job postings online for management roles. (Glassboro, Turnersville)
When the demo work started at both properties earlier this week, I was down at the Jersey Shore trying to stay cool… so my visit yesterday was near the end of the demolition effort.
The Glassboro property takes over what was previously a Rite Aid pharmacy. That corner property on Delsea Drive is now fully cleared, with ground graded and smooth.
During my visit yesterday at the Washington Township location, the Pep Boys building was significantly demolished with most of the store gone except for two exterior walls. The demolition effort also still needs to rip-up the store concrete foundation and flooring, as well as the parking lot asphalt.
While the site prep clearing work for Glassboro was completed first, I was told last month by a Raising Cane’s representative that (at the time) Washington Township was scheduled to be opened ahead of Glassboro, with Washington Township slated for First Quarter 2025 and Glassboro slated for April.
I have not asked for an update on those estimates.
What we’ve learned from the first wave of South Jersey Raising Cane’s restaurant openings is that the company will spread out the timing of new store openings to ensure that they have proper time to hire, train, and ramp up a location… and will let other “construction complete” locations wait until management is ready to move on to the next opening.
For those who have not heard of Raising Cane’s, they are a popular chicken finger quick-serve restaurant who is moving strongly into the South Jersey marketplace with locations open in Deptford, Cherry Hill, Marlton and Burlington.
Their simplified menu features large freshly made chicken fingers pieces and a selection of sides including coleslaw, Texas toast, and French fries.
And while I understand that people get upset over “another national chain”… let me just say I stopped into the Deptford Raising Cane’s middle afternoon yesterday (Thursday) and found probably 40 customers in the dining area with basically every table occupied, and several cars in the drive-thru.
Two weeks ago after seeing a friend’s band play I stopped at raising canes after midnight and I’m not kidding when I say there was 20 cars wrapped around that building in Deptford!
So far it seems Raising Cane’s has connected with their audience.
Raising Cane’s Glassboro
In March of 2023 I was the first to report on plans for the Glassboro location of Raising Cane’s.
The location is on Delsea Drive at the busy Donald Barger Blvd Intersection, where a Rite Aid pharmacy was located at the prime intersection.
(July 17, 2024)
This is immediately next to the Collegetown Shopping Center which is home to Esporta fitness, LIDL, Big Lots Ross and more.
Obviously, everyone knows that Delsea Drive through Glassboro is a busy road but also Donald Barger Boulevard is only a few blocks away from Glassboro High School, Rowan University and several residential neighborhoods.
In my visit yesterday the Glassboro property for Raising Cane’s was completely cleared out, the soil was regraded nice and smooth, and a pile of sand or stone was seen on the property.
Raising Cane’s Washington Township
First reported in January of 2023 at 42Freeway, the Washington Township Raising Cane’s is taking over a former Pep Boys location on the Black Horse Pike.
(July 17, 2024)
While the Pep Boys is one property “in” from the busy Ganttown Road intersection, it does have a side access road access connecting directly to Ganttown Road (and access to the neighborhoods behind it)…. Which Raising Cane’s will also be utilizing.
