On Friday, March 5, the Chamber helped Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers celebrate the opening of its newest location in Irving. Special guests included Councilman Rick Stopfer, Dallas Cowboys Defensive End, Marcus Spears and Raising Cane's Founder, Chairman and CEO, Todd Graves.
Councilman Rick Stopfer began things by thanking Raising Cane's for investing in the Irving community and for giving him another convenient dinner option! Also thankful to have the restaurant in town, Marcus Spears explained how as a freshman at LSU, he "lived at Cane's" dining frequently at their orignal location, "the mothership" in Baton Rouge, La. Finally, before the ribbon was cut, Todd Graves relayed the story of how Raising Cane's came to be:
Graves received the worst grade on a business plan for a college course, with the professor and many others telling him a chicken fingers restaurant would never work. With banks also doubting him, Graves took a job as a boilermaker working 90 hour weeks. He also fished commercially for Sockeye Salmon working 20-hour days in dangerous conditions off the coast of Alaska. With that money, Graves was able to get an SBA loan, enough to open a restaurant near the campus of LSU in 1996. Today, the restaurant has more than 80 locations throughout 13 states.
Councilman Rick Stopfer welcomes Raising Cane's to Irving.
Cowboys Defensive End Marcus Spears prepares to cut the ribbon.
Founder, Chairman and CEO Todd Graves with members of the Raising Cane's team.
Marcus Spears models his Raising Cane's cap.
