Meet the 3 Raising Cane’s fans who camped 15 hours to be first in line on opening day

Ah, to be 16 — with enough summertime flexibility to camp out overnight for a fast-food restaurant opening and with the metabolism to handle a massive plate of fried chicken tenders, fries and Texas toast at 9:45 a.m.

Wichita’s first Raising Cane’s chicken finger restaurant opened Tuesday morning at (a little before) 10 a.m., and hundreds of people were packed into the parking lot to be among the first to sample its fried goodness. Anticipation for the Gen Z-favorite restaurant chain has been high ever since it was announced last May that it was coming to Wichita.

Tuesday-morning’s opening was accompanied by a giveaway open to people who’d lined up at the restaurant by 8 a.m. Those fans got numbered lanyards, then 20 numbers were drawn at random. The winners got a card good for “free chicken for a year,” which translates to one free box combo three times a month for 12 months. (The restaurant passed out 400 lanyards Tuesday morning before running out, a spokesperson said.)

Although it didn’t much improve their chances of winning the free chicken, about 50 people camped out overnight on Monday, hoping to be the very first customers through the doors. Three 16-year-old buddies from Whitewater, all students at Remington High School, were there so early on Monday that they got lanyards No. 1, 2 and 3.

Elliott Hochstetler said that he and his friends Landon Winn and Tyrel Koehn (pronounced “Cane”) drove the 30 minutes to Wichita to begin their campout on Monday morning. They arrived at about 11:30 a.m. but discovered that the restaurant was hosting a private event. They returned at 7 p.m. and began their vigil.

“Two or three months ago, as soon as we heard it was opening in Wichita and we got the day, we started planning it,” Hochsteltler said.

They brought with them a tent, which they set up just outside the restaurant’s front doors, and they spent the night talking to other campers and playing card games. They really didn’t sleep at all, they said.

When throngs of non-camping fans started arriving early on Tuesday morning, the three friends sat coolly in the shade in camping chairs they’d set up right by the front door, and they watched the events unfold. When the drawing for the 20 winners of free chicken happened shortly after 9 a.m., Hochstetler’s number was among those called. (He didn’t have his prize in his hand yet, though, because Raising Cane’s required that his mom sign off on it.)

As the morning wore on, a marching band showed up to pump up the giant crowd. Those with lanyards were invited to spin a prize wheel for Raising Cane’s-branded merchandise, like sunglasses and tiny stuffed dogs. The line of people waiting to get into the restaurant snaked through the parking lot and around the back of the building, at one point obstructing the drive-through. (As 10 a.m. approached, cars waiting to get into the drive-through were stacked up east of the restaurant on University Street for more than three blocks.)

Around 9:40 a.m., Raising Cane’s staff started letting the first people in line into the restaurant. The three Whitewater friends were the first through the doors and were greeted by a double line of jumping, squealing cheerleaders. Hochstetler, customer No. 1, confidently approached the counter and ordered his Box Combo, which includes four chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, one Cane’s sauce, Texas toast, coleslaw and a fountain drink.

Suddenly, he was surrounded by cameras. He smiled while he displayed his food, and then he picked up the free Cane’s hat and coupon good for a future meal that he’d earned by being one of the first 100 people in line to order a Box Combo.

The three friends chose a corner booth, which sits under a gold-framed painting of Elvis Presley. When all three had their food and were at the table, they bowed their heads for a quick prayer then dug in. The clock read 9:45 a.m.

All agreed the campout was more than worth their time.

“It’s for the memories,” Hochstetler said.

Now that Raising Cane’s is officially open, its hours are 10 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Raising Cane’s menu

This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM.

Denise Neil

The Wichita Eagle

316-268-6327

Denise Neil has covered restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Her Dining with Denise Facebook page is the go-to place for diners to get information about local restaurants. She’s a regular judge at local food competitions and speaks to groups all over Wichita about dining.