Photo by David Suarez
Audio By Carbonatix
It was barely breakfast time on Coral Way when the scene outside Raising Cane’s turned downright clucking chaotic.
On Tuesday morning, February 3, the highly anticipated grand opening of Raising Cane’s newest Miami outpost in Coral Gables drew long lines of eager Caniacs, city officials, DJs, cheer squads, and the promise of free juicy fried chicken for a year.
But just as the ribbon-cutting festivities were ramping up around 9 a.m., a graphic, confrontational protest by PETA unfolded directly outside the restaurant, creating a stark, unsettling contrast to the celebratory mood.
Photo by David Suarez
PETA’s “There Will Be Blood” Protest
By 9 a.m., as customers lined up for Box Combos and Cane’s Sauce, PETA demonstrators launched what they described as a “There Will Be Blood” demonstration.
The protest featured a woman hung upside down with simulated blood, acting out what PETA says mirrors the way chickens are slaughtered for meat production. Warning: the photo below is graphic. However, no one was harmed as it was an artistic demonstration using props and special effects makeup.
Photo by David Suarez
“PETA asks anyone thinking of eating chicken to think about how these curious, social birds are killed before they end up in a fast food bag,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman in a statement. “It is cruelty to animals to ignore the suffering of chickens and other animals, and it’s so easy to go vegan.” The organization also promoted its free vegan starter kits to attendees.
The visual display was intentionally provocative, meant to confront customers before doors officially opened at 10 a.m. The protest unfolded alongside a packed schedule of opening-day events.
Photo by David Suarez
The Upbeat Event Unfolded As Planned
Inside and around the restaurant at 3600 Coral Way, Raising Cane’s hosted a DJ spinning music from early morning through the evening, a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials, and a $5,000 donation presentation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.
The first 100 customers received branded trucker hats and free Box Combo cards, while 20 lucky guests were entered to win free Cane’s for a year. An on-site dog adoption event and performances by the Coral Gables cheer team added to the festive atmosphere.
Photo by David Suarez
The Juxtaposition Was Jarring For Many
Despite the successful morning event, the juxtaposition was jarring for some attendees. On one side of the sidewalk, fans posed for photos, celebrated Miami’s growing fast-food landscape, and waited patiently for crispy chicken fingers and buttery Texas toast. On the other side of the sidewalk, protesters held signs, distributed literature, and staged a visual display that many described as disturbing, especially during the morning rush hour in a busy Coral Way corridor. However, the protest clearly conveyed its message.
Raising Cane’s, which prides itself on community engagement and neighborhood-specific decor, did not engage directly with the demonstrators during the opening. Instead, the brand stayed focused on its planned celebration and charitable efforts, welcoming customers throughout the day.
By the time the doors opened, the crowd had only grown, proving one thing clearly: whether met with cheers or controversy, Raising Cane’s arrival in Coral Gables was impossible to ignore.
Photo by David Suarez
Over 900 Locations Nationwide and Counting
Founded in 1996 by Todd Graves, who famously lists his title as “founder, CEO, fry cook, and cashier,” Raising Cane’s was once told that a chicken-finger-only concept would never work. Nearly three decades later, the Louisiana-born brand boasts more than 910 locations nationwide and remains stubbornly committed to its golden-fried gospel.
The Coral Way opening joins the chain’s existing Miami-area locations in Homestead, Doral, Miami Beach, and Cutler Bay, further cementing its growing South Florida footprint.
Raising Cane’s Coral Gables. 3600 SW 22nd St., Miami; 833-442-2637; raisingcanes.com.
