Raising Cane’s is taking over the old On the Border spot on Heritage Blvd and 301, and while it’ll bring more fast food to the area, some folks are hoping for more upscale dining options instead. The city council is all about supporting local businesses, so if you want fancier choices, it’s time to show love to the higher-end places already around!
Here are the highlights:
- City Council approved Raising Cane’s restaurant at Heritage Blvd and 301.
- The 3,300 square foot restaurant will replace the former On the Border, which closed in 2021.
- Raising Cane’s is new to the area, with additional locations planned in Crofton and Charles County.
- No major site changes are expected; the new restaurant will feature a drive-through, fast-casual interior, and outdoor seating.
- Raising Cane’s will join other establishments on the 301 corridor, including a Dash-In convenience store and gas station.
- Residents have expressed a desire for higher-end dining options amidst the growth of fast-food establishments.
- Recent years have seen the arrival of upscale restaurants like Blvck Cow, Milk & Honey, and Aroma in the Bowie area.
- Challenges for non-chain and upscale restaurant owners include thin profit margins, labor shortages, and competition from established brands.
- Community planners encourage support for existing high-end local dining options to foster success.
- Yelp lists various new and existing mid and upper-tier restaurants in the area.
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Raising Cane’s Replacing On the Border
The City Council voted Monday to approve an application for Raising Cane's restaurant at Heritage Blvd and 301.
The 3,300 square foot establishment will replace the former On the Border restaurant that closed in 2021.
The New Orleans-based chain is new to the area with other locations planned in Crofton and Charles County.
Existing rules make it easy for a restaurant to replace a previous one. No major site changes are expected. The new restaurant would feature a drive through, fast-casual sit down interior, and outdoor seating area.
Raising Cane's will be joining the 301 corridor along with a separate Dash-In convenience store and gas station across the street. It will be replacing the Applebees, which chose not to renew its lease.
At past meetings, Council Members bristled at fast-food chains replacing more traditional sit-down restaurants. On social media and in comments to council members, residents have increasingly expressed a desire for higher-end options.
While new upscale restaurants have come to the area in recent years, there has been a continued growing presence of fast food establishments alongside them.
"We're always going to have a diversity of shopping in the area," said Council Member Estève. "The most important thing is residents really go out and support the kind of businesses they want."
The Bowie zip codes have welcomed high-end restaurants Blvck Cow, Milk & Honey, and Aroma in recent years. Rips, also on 301, has become a more sophisticated destination.
Non-chain and upscale restaurant owners tend to name thin profit margins, labor shortages, competition from known brands, and difficult county permitting as challenges moving into the area.
Established brands with standard menus, reduced overhead, and the backing of corporate marketing and customer data, have been dominating the restaurant space outside of major cities and ultra-high-income suburbs.
Higher interest rates, unpredictable supply chains, and growing regulatory and tax burdens further advantage chains over smaller operations.
Community development planners advise customers looking for more upscale local dining options to support existing high-end locales in their communities as success tends to breed success.
For anyone interested, Yelp lists a number of new and existing mid and upper tier area restaurants.