Raising Cane's confirms Commack location, replacing a McDonald's

Raising Cane’s has confirmed plans for a new restaurant in Commack, replacing a recently closed McDonald's on Vanderbilt Parkway.

A Raising Cane’s representative issued a statement to Newsday that said pending municipal permitting and approval, the chain is aiming to open a new restaurant at the property in late 2026.

The site plan proposes a one-story, 3,500-square-foot building. If approved, the restaurant would contain 45 indoor seats, as well as a drive-thru area for customers, a curb ramp, bicycle racks and a 570-square-foot outdoor area with 17 seats, among other features, according to documents from the Town of Smithtown's planning department.

Altogether, the restaurant’s building and outdoor area would cover 4,070 square feet.

Nicole Garguilo, a town spokeswoman, said last Wednesday the town board is working to finalize the Raising Cane’s site plan and expects to have a resolution approving it ready for the Dec. 2 meeting.

The restaurant chain specializes in chicken fingers and has roughly 900 locations across the United States.

McDonald's closed the Vanderbilt Parkway location in September. However, the company is poised to open a new eatery on Crooked Hill Road in Commack. The Smithtown Town Board voted Oct. 23 to approve a site plan for McDonald’s there.

The Commack site was one of three that Raising Cane’s had proposed opening on Long Island, with the other two in East Meadow and Hauppauge. However, the chain canceled those plans in May 2024 and delayed opening any restaurants on Long Island until next year, Newsday previously reported. Bay Shore and Carle Place locations are expected to open next year.

In April, the Town of North Hempstead approved site plans for a Raising Cane's at Old Country Road, Newsday previously reported.

In the Town of Babylon, Raising Cane's has recently applied to open in East Farmingdale, where Houlihan's is located. Houlihan's filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and has closed all of its Long Island locations except the East Farmingdale site.