ONTARIO — Raising Cane’s is completing a traffic study with plans for a restaurant in Ontario at 720 N. Lexington Springmill Road.
The site currently hosts Denny’s, which has operated at the property since 1979. Raising Cane’s plans to demolish the current structure to build a 3,180 square feet restaurant with a drive-thru.
Raising Cane’s public relations senior manager Hannah Henderson previously told Richland Source that the restaurant signed a lease in May and plans to open its doors next summer.
The California-based Scott Family Trust currently owns the property, according to the Richland County Auditor’s Office.
Denny’s last day open will be around Sept. 10, according to an anonymous employee.
Richland Source reached out to Denny’s media relations on July 23 asking about a timeline of the closure. We have not received a response as of this publishing.
Ontario zoning inspector Michael Morton said Raising Cane’s is completing a traffic study and will come before planning commission on Aug. 14 with variance requests regarding setbacks and the parking lot structure.
Morton said the city suggested only allowing right turns out of the parking lot on both the Lexington-Springmill and 4th Street exits.
“They’ll also have to do some restriping on 4th Street to extend that left turn lane going west,” Morton said. “And we suggested no left turn southbound off Lexington-Springmill.”
Raising Cane’s filed preliminary site plans with the City of Ontario on June 17. Morton said he assumes the corporation will put together a final plan for approval after planning commission determines whether to grant its variance requests.
“That’s speculation, but that’s how it normally goes,” he said. “Permit approval for demolition and construction is part of that.”
There are currently 50 Raising Cane’s operating in Ohio. The closest to Richland County include locations in Delaware, Columbus, Akron and an upcoming Willoughby restaurant.
Henderson said Raising Cane’s plans to hire at least 100 employees between full- and part-time positions.
