Raising Cane’s Spreads Wings Across Tampa Bay — Is Sarasota/Venice Next?
- "At any given time, we have about 300 Restaurants at various stages in our development pipeline and are continually evaluating sites all over the world to achieve our goal of operating 1,600+ restaurants and becoming a Top 10 US Restaurant Brand." - Company Press Release in January 2025
From Lutz to Orlando, Clearwater to Tampa — it seems like every new strip center welcomes either a car wash with revolving brushes or a chicken joint with crispy tenders. And right now, the one everyone in Florida can’t stop talking about is Raising Cane’s.
Hen It Rolls in Tampa Bay
- In Lutz, Cane’s just opened at 25952 FL‑56, across from Tampa Premium Outlets — marking their third Tampa-area site.
- In Clearwater, they’ve been showing up all over Pinellas: their first appeared in early 2023, followed by another at 2525 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33765, with plans for Largo and St. Pete outlets too.
- Tampa proper is getting in on the action, and whispers in real estate circles suggest more locations are looming.
- And Orlando? Cane’s is expanding statewide — 800+ locations nationally, with nearly 100 new sites planned by year-end.

Chicken Chains Flock to Florida
Nationally, fast-casual chicken is gobbling up market share. In 2024, fried chicken chains saw visits grow 4.3% — more than double that of their fast-food and casual-dining cousins. By comparison, Raising Cane’s broke records in 2024, rolling out 118 locations and delivering its first-ever billion-dollar quarter.
In Florida, this bird boom is everywhere:
- Chick‑fil‑A launched 64 new restaurants nationwide in 2025 — eight of them in Florida.
- KFC’s “Saucy” concept just landed in Orlando, a tender-focused, dip-heavy twist on the stalwart brand.
- National brands like Slim Chickens, Wingstop, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Pollo Campero, and Church’s, along with local players like Huey Magoo’s, are also flapping into the Sunshine State.

Why All the Cluck?
Several tasty factors are driving the trend:
- Economics: Chicken tends to cost less than beef to buy, fry, serve, and ship — so margins plump up.
- Consumer preference: Healthier lean meats + craveable breaded or grilled chicken = win-win.
- Menu flexibility: Whether it’s sandwiches, tenders, wings, bowls, or salads, chicken offers nearly limitless possibilities.
It’s no coincidence: Florida’s fast-food industry — forecasted to hit $26.4 billion by 2025 — is riding this feathered wave.
Cane’s Cravings: Florida Fans Speak
“Hands down the best tenders in Tampa Bay — crispy, juicy, and the sauce is 🔥.”
— Local Cane’s fan
“Every visit reminds me why Cane’s beats the rest — simple menu, stellar quality.”
— Clearwater customer
“ I gotta say the food was 10/10. The sauce was much different than expected. Seems like a zesty ranch + ketchup. Really good flavor.”
— Clearwater customer
Is Sarasota/Venice Next?
Raising Cane’s Next location Opens in Florida on 7/15 in Jacksonville: 8308 Merchants Way Jacksonville, FL 32222. And with Cane’s success across Tampa Bay and in Orlando, it’s highly likely we’ll see them move south. They’re on track to hit 1,600+ U.S. locations, and rural suburban markets like Sarasota and Venice are ripe for the taking.
“Hey, Look, That’s a New….”
If it feels like every new franchise is either spinning car wash brushes or frying up tenders, you’re not imagining it. Chicken fast food is booming — and Florida is ground zero. For Raising Cane’s and its contemporaries, it’s more than a trend: it’s a golden chicken empire rising — and we’re all invited to feast.
Image Credit For Cover: ID 262293027 ©
Joe Hendrickson | Dreamstime.com