TAMPA, FL — Raising Cane’s is continuing its aggressive Tampa Bay expansion with plans to open its first restaurant within Tampa city limits, bringing its popular chicken finger concept to one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors.

The Louisiana-based restaurant chain is targeting 1902 N. Dale Mabry Highway, where it plans to demolish a vacant building formerly occupied by Sunnyside Medical Marijuana Dispensary and Sweet Tomatoes.

The approximately 1.2-acre property will be redeveloped into a nearly 2,800-square-foot Raising Cane’s restaurant, featuring a double-lane drive-thru designed to accommodate the chain’s high customer demand.

$1.75 Million Redevelopment Planned

According to reported construction permits, the new restaurant building is expected to cost approximately $1.75 million.

The project will replace an existing 8,126-square-foot building with a smaller, more efficient restaurant footprint. Plans also include mobile-order pickup, outdoor dining and approximately 38 parking spaces.

Located near Walter’s Crossing, a roughly 350,000-square-foot retail center anchored by major retailers including Total Wine & More, the property benefits from strong retail activity and visibility along Dale Mabry Highway.

Raising Cane’s Continues Tampa Bay Expansion

The proposed Tampa restaurant is part of a broader expansion strategy throughout the Tampa Bay region.

Raising Cane’s already operates restaurants in Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Lutz, with additional locations planned in Brandon, Largo, Port Richey and Brooksville.

The company has previously indicated a long-term goal of establishing approximately 18 to 20 restaurants throughout Tampa Bay, reflecting its confidence in the region’s growing population and consumer demand.

Redevelopment Highlights Demand for Prime Retail Real Estate

The proposed Dale Mabry location also reflects a growing trend in commercial real estate: national quick-service restaurant operators redeveloping older retail properties into modern, drive-thru-oriented facilities.

Rather than pursuing only vacant land, restaurant chains are increasingly targeting existing commercial sites with established access, visibility and surrounding retail activity.

For Tampa Bay property owners and investors, this trend demonstrates the continued demand for well-positioned commercial parcels, particularly those capable of accommodating high-volume drive-thru operations.

As Raising Cane’s expands throughout Florida, its continued investment in Tampa Bay reinforces the region’s appeal to national restaurant operators and retail developers.

An official opening date for the proposed Tampa restaurant has not yet been announced.