Commissioners approve plans for Raising Cane's in Oakland

Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved plans to convert an existing restaurant in the city’s Oakland neighborhood into a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.

The restaurant chain is planning to open a location at Fifth Avenue and Atwood Street in a building that formerly housed the restaurant and bar Thirsty Scholar, according to a presentation given to the Planning Commission by Columbus, Ohio-based Olio Development.

Plans call for a 99-seat restaurant, with room for storage and food service equipment in the basement.

The top two floors of the building, which house apartments, won’t be impacted by the restaurant’s renovations.

Not to brag... pic.twitter.com/oW0nvZLZ84

— Raising Cane's (@raisingcanes) January 24, 2023

Julia Doyle, public relations director for Raising Cane’s, said the restaurant would likely open in late fall.

The restaurant chain is also slated to open a new location at The Piazza in South Fayette. The company initially had hoped that site would open early this year, but Doyle said they now anticipate an opening at the end of 2023.

Raising Cane’s also plans to open two other locations in the area, Doyle said. One is scheduled to open in the fall on Summit Park Drive in North Fayette. The other will open in North Versailles.

The fast food company, which has corporate offices in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La., operates about 700 restaurants in 35 states.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved their plans Tuesday without discussion. Commissioners Becky Mingo, Jennifer Askey, Fred Brown and Rachel O’Neill were not present for the vote.