According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Louisiana-based restaurant chain Raising Cane’s, known for chicken tenders and sauces, purchased the Village Inn lot, located at 2525 Gulf to Bay Blvd. in Clearwater. Notably, the lot is directly across the street from a Chic-fil-A restaurant.
It’s unclear when Raising Cane’s plans to open. But when it does, the concept will have to compete in an already saturated tendie market here in Tampa Bay.
The area already boasts locally-owned spots like PDQ, Joella’s Hot Chicken, Chicky Chicky Bang Bang, and King of the Coop, as well as Big Tendy brands like Carrabba’s-sourced Tender Shack, Chic-fil-A , Zaxby’s, Hoots and multiple locations planned for chains like Huey Magoo’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken in the coming months. Forget it, it’s Tendy Town.
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This article appears in Jan 6-12, 2022.