This month, we would like to give our praises to loyal chamber member, Raising Cane’s! Founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Raising Cane’s now has over 280 restaurants in the US and overseas. Last year, Aliso Viejo welcomed California’s second Raising Cane’s, much to the rejoice of “Caniacs” throughout Orange County. We spoke with Aliso Viejo Raising Cane’s General Manager, Bobbi Frye, to learn a little bit more about this unique restaurant.
The founder of Cane’s, Todd Graves, struggled in getting a loan to open the first Cane’s. He went from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Torrance, California to work as a boilermaker before heading up to Alaska to fish salmon as a means to raise the necessary money to open his first restaurant (fun fact – he named the restaurant after his yellow Labrador!). Not long after, the “Caniac” was born, and the rest is history!
So what makes Raising Cane’s so unique? The Southern quick-service restaurant chain is best known for its simple One Love menu; fresh, never frozen chicken tenders, served with Southern-tinged sides of coleslaw, Texas toast, crinkle-cut fries, and of course – their famous Cane dipping sauce! Frye shared the most popular item on the menu is currently the Box Combo, which gives guests a taste of everything they offer. Her favorite menu item of choice? “Well, the chicken fingers of course!”
Their One Love menu isn’t the only thing that makes this company stand apart from the rest. Raising Cane’s is renowned for its commitment to active involvement in its local community. Recently, the restaurant has supported several area organizations, including the I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue of Rancho Santa Margarita, the Orange Pet Hospital, the Ante Up for Autism Gala, the Spark of Love Toy Drive, Don Juan Avila Elementary School, Aliso Niguel High School, and the Aliso Viejo Community Association. It is exactly this involvement that makes Frye proud to be a part of this company. Says Frye, “Cane’s truly believes that being part of a community means helping others prosper, and we do everything in our power to give back to any non-profit in Aliso Viejo.”
When looking for a location to set down Raising Cane’s roots, Aliso Viejo was an obvious choice. Frye loves how close-knit and dedicated the Aliso Viejo community is to giving back and couldn’t wait to contribute to doing some good in the community. “Everyone is very friendly, and the city has a lot to offer. From the bike trails to the beautiful scenery and especially Soka University, what’s not to like?” Frye’s decision to join the Chamber came from an understanding of the important role we play in community involvement. “Since we love to give back, what better way to do so than to network through the Chamber of Commerce? I have met so many business people within the city that have helped spread the word about the Cane’s culture, and have been introduced to many people that Cane’s has been able to give back to.” We’d have to agree!
We couldn’t be happier to have such active and community driven companies as part of our growing Chamber of Commerce. If you haven’t had a taste of Raising Cane’s yet, we highly recommend a visit! To learn more about Raising Cane’s, check out their website or connect with them on Facebook.