Raising Cane’s Opens First Seattle Restaurant Amid U District Revitalization
Updated (2 articles)
Early crowds line up for 9 a.m. opening at 4345 University Way NE. Customers began gathering around 3 p.m. on Monday, and by 5 a.m. Tuesday a line of 30‑40 people waited for the restaurant’s 9 a.m. debut, marking the chain’s entry into Seattle’s U District [1].
Third Washington outlet follows rapid regional expansion. The Seattle site becomes Raising Cane’s third location in the state after Vancouver opened in 2024 and Spokane in 2025, extending the brand’s presence into the Seattle market [1].
Neighborhood businesses anticipate increased foot traffic. nearby Girl Scout cookie stand set up shop, and Pink Gorilla Games co‑owner Kelsey Lewin expects the restaurant to draw visitors to other Avenue businesses; U District officials note 37 million visitors last year—a 17 % rise—and about 350 ground‑floor enterprises [1].
High‑profile promotion precedes launch and hiring surge. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold appeared a week earlier to serve chicken fingers, generating buzz, while the new outlet will employ more than 100 staff and the chain plans nearly 100 new U.S. restaurants this year, with permits filed for sites in Lynnwood, Covington and Silverdale [1].
Timeline
2024 – Raising Cane’s opens its first Washington state restaurant in Vancouver, marking the chain’s entry into the Pacific Northwest and beginning its regional expansion [1][2].
2024 – Raising Cane’s signs a lease for a future Lynnwood location at 1232 164th Street SW, laying groundwork for further growth in western Washington [2].
2025 – Raising Cane’s launches its second Washington outlet in Spokane, extending the brand’s presence and demonstrating the success of the earlier Vancouver site [1][2].
2025 – The University District records 37 million visitors and hosts about 350 ground‑floor businesses, a 17 % rise that creates a favorable environment for new retailers like Raising Cane’s, according to executive director Don Blakeney [1].
2025 – Raising Cane’s files permits for the Lynnwood site and announces plans for additional restaurants in Covington and Silverdale, signaling a continued push into the Seattle metropolitan area [2].
Early Feb 2026 (≈Feb 10) – Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold appears at the U District construction site to serve chicken fingers, generating buzz ahead of the Seattle opening [1].
Feb 16‑17 2026 – Customers form an overnight line, with 30‑40 people waiting by 5 a.m. on Tuesday for the 9 a.m. opening, illustrating strong local demand for the chain’s first Seattle restaurant [1].
Feb 17 2026 – Raising Cane’s opens its Seattle location at 345/4345 University Way NE, employing more than 100 staff and becoming the chain’s third Washington outlet, while the company targets nearly 100 new U.S. restaurants this year [1][2].
Feb 2026 onward – Pink Gorilla Games co‑owner Kelsey Lewin expects the restaurant to draw spillover traffic to neighboring businesses, reflecting the anticipated economic boost for the U District [1].
2026 (future) – Raising Cane’s plans to file permits and break ground on additional Seattle‑area sites in Lynnwood, Covington and Silverdale, continuing its expansion trajectory in the Pacific Northwest [2].