Lynnwood’s long wait for Raising Cane’s is over, and traffic on 164th Street SW may never be the same. The popular chicken finger chain opened Tuesday in the former Wells Fargo building near Martha Lake, instantly drawing crowds to Snohomish County’s first Cane’s and its shiny new double-lane drive-thru.
The address, 1232 164th St. SW, is listed on Raising Cane’s, which also promoted the Lynnwood spot as opening on Tuesday. FOX 13 Seattle reports the Lynnwood store is the chain’s fourth in Washington and its first in Snohomish County, taking over the former Wells Fargo branch and adding a double-lane drive-thru built to handle heavy demand.
Expect Traffic Near the I-5 Off-Ramp
Snohomish County engineers are already eyeing the potential chicken-fueled gridlock. The restaurant sits only about a thousand feet from the I-5 off-ramp, and officials planned for off-duty officers to help manage opening traffic, according to HeraldNet. The county also worked with the developer on a concrete “pork chop” island that forces a right-in, right-out driveway, an attempt to keep 164th Street SW from seizing up.
Local coverage from KIRO notes that if backup becomes a problem, officials may temporarily restrict left turns at the driveway to keep traffic flowing.
Drive-Thru Lines, Jobs and Giveaways
The restaurant is also bringing a hiring blitz. The Lynnwood Raising Cane’s is adding more than 170 crewmembers, with starting pay at $17.50 an hour, according to FOX 13 Seattle. Grand-opening festivities include giveaways, with 20 customers set to receive “Free Cane’s for a Year.”
The company says it will partner with local schools, sports teams and nonprofits on fundraising efforts. For now, the Raising Cane’s page lists the Lynnwood restaurant as “coming soon” while those community events are finalized.
A Bigger Expansion
The Lynnwood debut is part of a broader June expansion, with the chain announcing a slate of new locations around the country, according to QSR Magazine. The new Snohomish County spot follows Raising Cane’s move into Seattle earlier this year and gives north King County residents a closer option.
The restaurant’s online listing still does not show regular operating hours, and county officials say they will monitor how drivers access the site and adjust as needed if traffic backs up. For now, Lynnwood scores another late-night and lunch option on an already packed commercial strip, and the opening-day rush will reveal just how much chicken 164th Street can handle.
