Raising Cane's Will Open New Tampa Restaurant
The chicken chain plans to build a location on North Dale Mabry Highway after demolishing an existing site.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Dining Out
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Raising Cane's is set to expand its Tampa Bay footprint with a new 2,794-square-foot restaurant located at 1902 N. Dale Mabry Highway. The project involves demolishing the 8,126-square-foot building currently occupied by a Sunnyside medical marijuana dispensary.
Why it matters
The upcoming restaurant represents a continuing push by the popular chicken chain to grow its presence in the Tampa Bay area. This expansion follows a period of rapid development for the brand, which opened 118 new locations in 2024.
The new restaurant will span 2,794 square feet and feature a drive-thru, mobile-order pickup, and outdoor dining. The company plans to spend approximately $1.75 million to complete the development.
The players
Raising Cane's
This fast-food restaurant chain specializes in chicken fingers and operates over 1,000 locations worldwide.
Todd Graves
He is the founder who opened the very first Raising Cane's restaurant in Baton Rouge.
Sunnyside
This is a medical marijuana dispensary currently operating out of a building on North Dale Mabry Highway.
The details
The site of the new restaurant currently houses an 8,126-square-foot Sunnyside medical marijuana dispensary that will be demolished to make way for the project. This new addition will join the company's existing footprint, which already includes locations in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Lutz.
Timeline
Todd Graves opened the first Raising Cane's in Baton Rouge in 1996.
The chain established its first Florida location in 2022.
Raising Cane's opened 118 new restaurants throughout 2024.
Culture Shift
This development aligns with the rapid nationwide expansion strategy the company has pursued throughout the recent fiscal year. It marks a departure from the brand's initial regional footprint, reflecting a broader trend of aggressive growth for national quick-service chains.
Residents near North Dale Mabry Highway can expect the demolition of the existing medical marijuana building and subsequent construction at the site. The new location will provide local customers with additional access to drive-thru and outdoor dining options once the project is finished.
The takeaway
The addition of this site underscores the ongoing growth of popular chicken-focused fast-food chains within the Tampa Bay region. Customers should look for future announcements regarding the specific construction timeline and grand opening date.
Further reading
For more information on local restaurant updates, visit our Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.
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