Look inside Raleigh’s first Raising Cane’s, opening next week near NC State
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AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Raising Cane’s opens Jan. 27 at 2420 Hillsborough St., occupying the old Varsity Theatre.
- Restaurant preserves the marquee, adds mural, kiosks, booths and spiral staircase.
- Grand opening promotions include prizes, gift cards and charity gifts.
The chicken tender game is changing in Raleigh.
The wildly popular chicken finger brand Raising Cane’s will open its first Raleigh location next week, taking over a historic theater space on Hillsborough Street.
Raising Cane’s will hold a grand opening Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the new 2420 Hillsborough St. location, essentially across the street from NC State’s campus.
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This is the fourth North Carolina location for the popular chicken finger brand. Clearly eager to feed the college crowd, the first Triangle Raising Canes opened on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill in 2023, with lines out the door for the first few days.
“Opening our first Restaurant in Raleigh is a huge milestone for Raising Cane’s, and we couldn’t imagine a better spot than right here on Hillsborough Street,” said area leader of restaurants for Raising Cane’s, Bobbi Frye in a press release. “From preserving the character of this historic space to creating a place where Wolfpack fans, students and neighbors can come together, this Restaurant truly reflects the spirit of the Community. We’re proud to bring our ONE LOVE to the capital city and look forward to becoming a go-to gathering place for Raleigh.”
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The Varsity Theatre, former restaurants
The striking space was originally the Varsity Theatre on Hillsborough Street, dating back to the 1940s, but became a restaurant space about a decade ago, first as H-Street Kitchen and then as pizzeria La Stella Wood Fired. That restaurant closed in 2018.
Raising Cane’s has preserved the outside marquee of the theater, emblazoned with the company name. Inside diners will find a wide spiral staircase to a second floor, booths and tables and digital ordering kiosks.
A large mural of the Raising Cane’s mascot, a golden retriever named Cane, has been added to the restaurant wall, wearing a red NC State hat.
Raising Cane’s menu
Raising Cane’s is best known for its chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, Texas toast and chicken sandwiches.
But there’s a major incentive to showing up early. From 8 to 9 a.m., customers in line have the chance at winning a year of free Raising Cane’s food. The first 100 people through the door will get a free hat and gift card. And the very first person in line gets a gift basket.
The restaurant will open at 10 a.m., preceded by a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Charity donations of $1,000 will be awarded to Second Chance Pet Adoptions and Marbles Kids Museum, and a DJ will spin some morning tunes.
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This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Look inside Raleigh’s first Raising Cane’s, opening next week near NC State."
