LOWER MACUNGIE TWP, Pa. — If you planned to get to the new Raising Cane's in Trexlertown for its first day Tuesday, you certainly were not alone.
Hundreds gathered outside the new double drive-thru fast food location to be among the first to get the chain's fried chicken, Texas toast and "Cane's Sauce," and a long drive-thru line came to match the foot traffic.
"I would say it's very dangerous. I first discovered Cane's in Houston, Texas, and it just totally brought me to a whole other level — it was an epiphany."Customer Sarah Cugini at the opening of Raising Cane's in Trexlertown
A DJ, Chamber of Commerce members, a representative for state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie's office, as well as the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs' mascot Ferrous were brought in for the ribbon cutting.
A $1,000 donation also was presented to the Lehigh Valley Humane Society by Raising Cane's.
Twenty members of the audience won free food at the restaurant for a year as they waited for the doors to open.
The store will operate from 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
A second location also has been proposed for the region near Lehigh Valley International Airport.
Public excitement
Many attendees Tuesday said they had tried the chain elsewhere and were very excited to see one open closer to home.
"I would say it's very dangerous," opening attendee Sarah Cugini said, jokingly.
"I first discovered Cane's in Houston, Texas, and it just totally brought me to a whole other level — it was an epiphany."
Ricardo Fernandez and Dax Eckert decided that they were in for the long haul for the opening. They said they began waiting in line at midnight to be first in line.
And it worked — the pair's group of enthusiasts were the first in the line to order.
"We've been going to Raising Cane's in Philly for a while now, because the food is just so good," Fernandez said.
"There's been a lot of buzz of Raising Cane's coming to town. I think a lot of it just was organic, and people are excited. This brand is well known, so we're excited to see the crowd come out."Hayden Rinde, Emmaus Main Street Partners manager with the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
Eckert said, "As soon as we heard that it was going to open here, we immediately knew we had to camp out here and wait for it to open up. We had to be some of the first.
"It's probably the best area they could have put it in. There's a lot of people that come over here, lots of kids that hang out over here, it's just in general a lot of good business."
Hayden Rinde, Emmaus Main Street Partners manager with the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said it was great to see the turnout to a new venture in the area.
"There's been a lot of buzz of Raising Cane's coming to town," Rinde said.
"I think a lot of it just was organic, and people are excited. This brand is well known, so we're excited to see the crowd come out."
Emblematic of growth in the area
Lower Macungie has been a dynamic spot for new retail and dining over recent years, with first-to-the-area amenities such as a recently opened Wawa Drive Thru next-door to the Raising Cane's, and continued development at the expansive Hamilton Crossings shopping center.
"I think it's an exciting time."Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners President Brian Higgins
The newest proposed large complex in the township, the Lehigh Valley Town Center, is making its way through the approval process with Topgolf facilities expected to open next year.
"I'm excited that retailers like Topgolf and Raising Cane's are choosing Lower Macungie as their first ventures in the Lehigh Valley," Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners President Brian Higgins said upon the Raising Cane's location's approval.
"We want to be a destination for people, we want to give our people who live here everything that they could possibly get without having to travel far.
"I think it's an exciting time."
