By Kylie Balk-Yaatenen - February 27th 2024

 

JANESVILLE

A new drive-thru chicken restaurant could be rising soon on Janesville’s northeast side. That came as a surprise to an existing barbecue restaurant on the same site. Its manager said Tuesday it has an active lease and has not been told by its landlord that it is being kicked off the site.

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers has over 750 locations across the United States including one restaurant in Madison. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it specializes in chicken fingers and would be the fifth chicken restaurant to open in the Milton Avenue and Humes Road area on Janesville’s northeast side.

Janesville Planning Director Duane Cherek said property owner SGAS Holdings LLC, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., that also has corporate ties to Texas and Delaware, recently submitted plans to the city to build a brand new restaurant at 3030 Milton Ave. Famous Dave’s Barbecue remained in operation on that site as of Tuesday, as a current tenant of SGAS Holdings.

A public hearing on the plans submitted by SGAS Holdings is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, March 18, before the city’s Plan Commission. The meeting is at Janesville City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.

Famous Dave’s Manager Dominique Shopa Olsen said Tuesday the local management had not been informed that the restaurant is closing, only finding that out via local media reports.

Numerous messages left by The Gazette for Barbecue Holdings, Famous Dave’s corporate owner in Minnetonka, Minn., were not immediately returned.

Shopa Olsen said the local Famous Dave’s management is in talks with its corporate office about next steps. She urged local residents to speak up on the situation at the March 18 public hearing.

“People should come out to show support for the only Wisconsin-based barbecue restaurant to be replaced with another chain,” Olsen said.

Cherek said prior to the March 18 meeting being scheduled, city staff was not in communication with either the current nor prospective tenants.

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