Raising Cane’s is moving closer to opening its first Pierce County location, with plans for a new restaurant in Lakewood that could bring the popular chicken finger chain to more customers in the South Sound.

The restaurant is planned for 10025 Lakewood Drive SW, near the intersection of Lakewood Drive Southwest and Bridgeport Way Southwest. According to public records filed with the Washington State Department of Ecology, construction is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2026, with the project expected to run through May 29, 2027. These dates reflect the construction timeline listed in state records, not a confirmed grand opening date.

The proposed restaurant would replace existing commercial buildings on the property with a new Raising Cane’s location featuring parking, a patio and two drive-through lanes. Lakewood approved a variance allowing the second drive-through lane in December 2025, clearing an important step in the project’s permitting process.

The planned location is also close to an existing Chick-fil-A, potentially putting two major chicken chains within the same stretch of Lakewood Drive.

Raising Cane’s is known for its focused menu built around chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw and its signature Cane’s Sauce. The chain has developed a loyal following for its straightforward menu and combo meals, making its expansion into the South Sound a notable addition to the area’s fast-food scene.

The Lakewood project is part of a broader expansion of Raising Cane’s in Washington. Additional locations have been moving through the planning process in Puyallup and Burlington, although their timelines and opening dates have not been firmly established.

As of October 2026, Raising Cane’s has not publicly confirmed an official opening date for the Lakewood restaurant. For now, the construction schedule listed in state records provides the clearest indication of when work could begin and how long the project may take.

If construction proceeds according to the current schedule, Lakewood residents could see significant progress on the restaurant over the coming months, with the possibility of a 2027 opening depending on the pace of construction and remaining approvals.