NEW PHILADELPHIA — A popular fast food restaurant chain is interested in purchasing land from the city to open a location in New Philadelphia.
Service Director Ron McAbier told council on Monday that Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers would like to buy a 0.77-acre tract fronting on Bluebell Drive near Walmart.
Initial plans call for the restaurant to have access through the Walmart parking lot. There is also the possibility of using Maple Avenue NW.
The land will be sold at auction, with a minimum bid of $150,000.
“We weren’t out shopping it, until they started inquiring on it,” McAbier said. The two sides have been discussing the purchase for months.
He said the company also inquired about purchasing a piece of ground the city owns closer to the intersection of Bluebell Drive and W. High Avenue, but New Philadelphia isn’t interested in selling. That tract would be needed if the city ever decided to put in a continuous right-turn lane there.
The nearest Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers locations are in North Canton and Zanesville. The company also has several locations in the Cleveland and Columbus area.
The company, established in 1996, has corporate headquarters in Baton Rouge, La.
“Raising Cane’s is a restaurant company that has One Love — quality chicken finger meals,” the company said on its website. “Cane’s is known for its great crew, cool culture and active community involvement.”
The idea of selling the land was discussed at council’s Public Works – Economic Development Committee. The committee recommended that legislation be drawn up to allow the property to go up for auction.
