Popular chicken chain will open second Mass. location this spring in Marlborough

MARLBOROUGH — The long-awaited opening date for just the second Massachusetts location of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is in sight.

"As of now, we plan to open in mid-April — of course, that is subject to change as we make progress on construction," said Julia Doyle, director of public relations for Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Raising Cane's.

Doyle confirmed the Marlborough restaurant would not open March 21, a date that has been associated with it in Google searches. In more recent months, the restaurant, at 141 Boston Post Road West (Route 20), has been completing construction, adding additional signage and working on the interior of the building.

The restaurant will be the second Raising Cane's in Massachusetts, and the first since its Boston location on Commonwealth Avenue opened in 2009. The fast-food chain specializes in chicken fingers, which are the only entree on the menu. Customers can choose different combo platters that feature chicken fingers, along with a number of side options including crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and coleslaw.

All meals come with the signature Cane's dipping sauce.

Food fight:McDonald's, Raising Cane's settle dispute over traffic flow at Marlborough site

The restaurant first planned to open in Marlborough in 2021. But plans were set back by a dispute with a neighboring McDonald's, which objected to the restaurant receiving a special permit from the city. McDonald's officials said that under the special permit, customers for Raising Cane's would be passing through McDonald's driveways.

McDonald's sued the city over granting the special permit. However, Raising Cane's and McDonalds reached a private agreement that allowed Raising Cane's to proceed with construction.

The restaurant will join a crowded scene on Marlborough's west side, just off Interstate 495 and near Apex Entertainment. Besides McDonald's, there are Wendy's, Chick-fil-A and Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in close proximity.

Nearby sit-down options include 110 Grill, LongHorn Steakhouse, Evviva Trattoria and The 99 Restaurant & Pub.

Founded in 1996, Raising Cane's operates about 600 restaurants. The next-closest one to Boston is in Pennsylvania.