SAUGUS — The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve a special permit allowing the rapidly-growing chicken restaurant chain Raising Cane’s to open a drive-thru at their new restaurant planned for 799 Broadway Tuesday night.
The chicken finger-specialized restaurant, contingent on approval from all necessary boards and committees in town, will be allowed to operate a drive-thru until no later than 2 a.m. unless the Police Department approves an extended curfew allowing it to remain open until its proposed closing time — 3:30 a.m.
Raising Cane’s Senior Property Development Manager Adam Caracci opened discussions with an overview of the business’s management and assurances that the business will face speakers and lights away from abutting properties to remedy some of the Board’s concerns about potential light or noise pollution.
“It’s a fairly simple, refined, and focused concept. We’re a high-quality chicken finger chain. We only sell one thing, and as a result, we can run a fast and efficient drive-thru operation,” Caracci said. “We’re fairly certain we can push people through in just under three minutes.”
Currently, Raising Cane’s has two franchises in Boston, along with locations in Methuen, which opened in October, and Marlborough, which opened in May. The Marlborough franchise’s opening attracted such a large crowd of customers that Marlborough Police officers were brought in to direct traffic near the restaurant.
Selectman Anthony Cogliano expressed appreciation to the chain for choosing Saugus for their next location. He said a local location would create a “hotspot” for business in Saugus because of the chain’s extraordinary popularity, bringing young customers into the town.
Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff Cicolini said that he has visited one of the restaurant’s Boston locations upon his kids’ request and was impressed by the product and fast service.
“It’s pretty neat — everything’s done in such an organized way. You sit down, and there’s already someone right there with the food,” Cicolini said.
With plans to begin constructing its new location in the spring, Caracci said the restaurant is slated to open in October or November of 2024.
