Two Raising Cane's restaurants under construction in Jacksonville
Raising Cane's chicken fingers has started construction on two more Jacksonville-area restaurants, one year after hundreds lined up for its Oakleaf Station debut. Work is in early stages at Gate Parkway in the Markets at Town Center and at San Jose Boulevard in Mandarin Corners, both former Pollo Tropical sites, and no opening dates have been announced.
Jacksonville diners already proved their appetite for Raising Cane's chicken fingers when the chain's first Northeast Florida restaurant opened July 15, 2025, at 8308 Merchants Way in Oakleaf Station. The Florida Times-Union reports that the Louisiana-based chain is now pushing deeper into the market with two simultaneous builds on Jacksonville's Southside.
Key Takeaways
- Raising Cane's is constructing restaurants at 4863 Gate Parkway (Markets at Town Center) and 10989 San Jose Blvd. (Mandarin Corners).
- Both sites previously housed Pollo Tropical restaurants that closed in February 2025.
- The Town Center location involves renovating the existing building; Mandarin is a ground-up rebuild after demolition.
- City permits value the major buildouts at roughly $1.65 million each, with separate site-work costs at Town Center.
- No target opening dates have been announced, though a possible fourth Jacksonville site is under review at the former Regency Square Mall property.
Where are the two new Raising Cane's restaurants in Jacksonville?
The chain is building at 4863 Gate Parkway in The Markets at Town Center, next to competitor Zaxby's. The second site is 10989 San Jose Blvd. in the Walmart-anchored Mandarin Corners shopping center, near the center's main entrance.
Reuters Connect images show active work underway at the Gate Parkway address, where Raising Cane's Chicken Tenders is replacing the former Pollo Tropical. Pollo Tropical abruptly closed its last three Jacksonville locations in February 2025, clearing high-traffic corners that Raising Cane's quickly targeted.
What is happening at each Jacksonville construction site?
At Town Center, Raising Cane's is planning a nearly 3,000-square-foot restaurant by renovating and repairing the former Pollo Tropical building. Permits filed with the city point to an outdoor covered patio, a drive-thru lane, and a drive-thru canopy. A May 20 building permit estimated the buildout at $1.65 million, while January site work was pegged at $1.5 million.
The Mandarin Corners project looks different. Crews recently tore down the old Pollo Tropical structure to make way for a planned 2,770-square-foot Raising Cane's built from the ground up. A May 29 permit estimated construction at $1.65 million, with demolition work listed at $50,000 on a June 2 permit. That restaurant will also include a drive-thru, patio seating, a free-standing drive-thru canopy, and a dumpster enclosure.
When will the new Jacksonville Raising Cane's locations open?
That is the question fans are asking most — and the chain has not answered it yet. The Florida Times-Union notes that no target opening dates have been announced for either the Town Center or Mandarin Corners restaurants, even though construction is visible at both properties.
Nationwide, Raising Cane's keeps a brisk calendar. USA Today reported on June 30, 2026 that the chain had more July openings on deck across the United States, even as these two Jacksonville builds remain without announced dates.
Is Raising Cane's planning more Jacksonville restaurants?
Possibly. The Times-Union reports Raising Cane's is also exploring a potential fourth location at 9501 Arlington Expressway, on an outparcel at the former Regency Square Mall property. A company representative told the newspaper on June 23 that the chain is looking at the Regency site but could not confirm anything at that time.
For Northeast Florida, the expansion wave signals Raising Cane's chicken fingers is betting that Jacksonville's first-year turnout was not a one-off. Track more growth stories like this in our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage as chains race to claim prized drive-thru real estate.
For full project details and permit breakdowns, see the Florida Times-Union's June 25 report.