A host of national chains and franchises are slated to enter Delaware for the first time this year while some mainstays expand their presence.
Here’s a look at some of the developments to watch.
Raising Cane’s to open in Newark at former College Square
Raising Cane’s, a fast-food chain founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializing in chicken fingers, is opening its first Delaware location on Tuesday, April 18.
The fast-food restaurant is in The Grove at Newark, the redeveloped College Square shopping center between Library Avenue and Marrows Road east of the University of Delaware campus. It is a standalone building with a drive-thru near the WSFS building on the south end of The Grove.
The chain has been expanding rapidly, having added more than 500 locations in the last decade. Its restaurants make essentially one item: chicken fingers.
Most of the menu items are different-sized combo meals with fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and the company’s signature Cane’s sauce. The only deviation is the chicken sandwich, which is three chicken fingers on a bun. The tenders are hand-dipped to order.
Nothing Bundt Cakes brings specialty bakery to Christiana
Nothing Bundt Cakes, a national chain of bundt cake-only bakeries, is expanding to a second Delaware location.
Delaware’s first Nothing Bundt Cakes opened in December in the Market Square shopping center bordering Brandywine Town Center on Concord Pike. The second is being built in the Churchmans Place strip center on Churchmans Road in Christiana.
Construction began earlier this month. Franchisee Patrycja Swan is hopeful it will open this summer.
Nothing Bundt Cakes offers 10 bundt cake flavors and a rotating specialty flavor in five sizes, ranging from a tiered cake to mini “bundtinis.” Shoppers can select from a variety of decorations. All of the cakes are served with a signature butter cream cheese frosting.
As the name suggests, you won’t find sheet cakes, cupcakes or cookies in the shop.
“I know people think we’re crazy,” Swan said. “We focus on what we’re good at.”
Swan’s husband, David, first tried a Nothing Bundt Cake while on a business trip in the company’s home city of Las Vegas, Nevada. It immediately hooked his sweet tooth.
Before long the Chester Springs, Pennsylvania couple was day-tripping to Shrewsbury, New Jersey to visit the nearest Nothing Bundt Cakes as conversations unfolded with the company’s founders. Patrycja was looking for a new challenge after being a stay-at-home mother.
In 2018, they opened their first location in Exton, Pennsylvania. The Concord Pike location opened in December after a few months of equipment delays.
As for more Nothing Bundt Cakes in Delaware, Swan said, “I think I’ve got my hands full with three.”
“It’s like with kids they say three under three. I’ve got two under one,” Swan said. “It’s like having twins almost.”
Construction begins at Crumbl Cookies in Christiana Fashion Center
Work recently began on the Crumbl Cookies in the Christiana Fashion Center.
The store did not return a request for comment this week. The company previously said it is projected to open “this spring.”
Crumbl Cookies features a rotating menu of six varieties: a chocolate chip and five more unique flavors pulled from a back catalog of recipes or developed fresh. Packaged in a signature pink box, its cookies have inspired viral social media reviews.
A Crumbl Cookies opened in late February on Route 202 in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania in a strip center near Wegmans.
Taco Bell leads a new shopping center in Glasgow
Construction of a Taco Bell in a new shopping center along Route 40 in Glasgow is nearly complete.
The development is being built along the west lanes of Route 40 at Biddle Avenue in a historic area west of Glasgow Avenue and southeast of the La Grange subdivision.
East of where the shopping center is being built sits La Grange Manor House, built in 1815 and the site of several important experiments pertaining to cultivation techniques and fertilization. It’s often referred to as the Samuel Henry Black house, for its owner who was a doctor and farmer in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
A Taco Bell spokesperson said Wednesday the company is planning to open “within the next two weeks.”
Other tenants for the center include AutoZone and ChristianaCare GoHealth Urgent Care.
Waffle House opens doors in Bear
A Waffle House opened earlier this month on Route 40 in Bear.
The restaurant took the place of a medical office at 1450 Pulaski Highway. Waffle House now has four locations in Delaware. The others are in Middletown, Smryna and Dover.
PREVIOUS REPORTING: Waffle House takes over medical office for fourth Delaware location
Target in Middletown in company’s next slate of store openings
Construction of a Target in Middletown is expected to begin this year. It’s one of almost 50 locations listed as “coming soon” on the company’s website.
MORE ON TARGET: New details on the planned Middletown Target, and how Target is changing in Delaware
Target will be part of a new shopping center on Middletown Warwick Road at Ash Boulevard behind Popeyes and Middletown Wine and Spirits. The development includes about a half dozen smaller retail buildings and backs up to the Middletown Village subdivision.
At 148,000 square feet, the Middletown Target will likely follow the company’s new “larger-format store.” It will be about 30,000 square feet larger than Target’s newest Delaware store in Prices Corner.
Two Jersey Mike’s planned for Lower Delaware
Jersey Mike’s is on its way to Milford and Selbyville, according to the company’s website.
The Milford location will be on Route 113 near Route 14. The Selbyville store will be at Route 54 and West Fenwick Boulevard.
Both locations are listed as “scheduled to open soon.” The company could not be reached for comment.
Jersey Mike’s has nine locations across Delaware.
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Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.
