LOCAL

Raising Cane's to open restaurant in Heath this year

Kent Mallett, Reporter
  • The restaurant will be at 781 Hebron Road, former site of Integrity Auto, next to Frisch's Big Boy.
  • Raising Cane's has 14 restaurants in central Ohio, including Lancaster, Pickerington and Gahanna.

HEATH - For several years, central Licking County residents said they wanted a Raising Cane's restaurant closer to home.

Raising Cane's plans to demolish this building at 781 Hebron Road, in Heath, and build a restaurant.

They will have their wish before the end of the year, according to Charity Townes, spokeswoman for Raising Cane's franchise owner RCO Limited. The restaurant will be located at 781 Hebron Road, the former site of Integrity Auto, next to Frisch's Big Boy.

Heath Mayor Mark Johns said he had lobbied the restaurant chain to come to Heath in response to requests from Heath residents and also to cut down on his own travel time to the nearest Raising Cane's.

"The past two birthdays my daughters have had, I have driven to the Raising Cane's in Lancaster," Johns said. "I'm looking forward to driving just a few minutes away. We're thrilled they were able to settle on a spot in Heath."

A Raising Cane's representative will attend the Heath Planning Commission meeting Thursday night for a final review of the site plan. The restaurant chain recently purchased the property from Ronald and Karen Schenk and will soon demolish the Integrity Auto Service building on the lot, according to Heath officials.

The Louisiana-based chain operates 14 restaurants in central Ohio, including Lancaster, Pickerington and Gahanna, and five in the Cincinnati area.

Townes confirmed in June that Raising Cane's sought to open a restaurant in Heath, but she said it was tentative and probably not until 2017 or 2018.

"They've been looking at Heath for quite awhile as a location for a store," Johns said. "I know how popular that restaurant franchise is, particularly with teenagers in Licking County. I expect they will be flocking to that location. They will draw people to this restaurant and city from all over Licking County and beyond."

Raising Cane's is looking to hire a manager for the Heath restaurant. Typically, Raising Cane's employs 30 to 60 people, but employment can vary on the location, Townes said.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958