HANOVER TWP., Pa. – Hanover Township Council in Lehigh County granted preliminary/final land development plan for a fast-food restaurant during a special meeting Wednesday night at the township building.
The plan involves a 3,000-square-foot Raising Cane’s establishment on the site of the former 4,500-square-foot Friendly’s restaurant at 1836 Catasauqua Road, near its intersection with Airport Road. The approval was granted with 16 conditions and six waivers.
Cane’s officials said Wednesday night that demolition is scheduled for spring 2026, with construction expected to take six months.
The company’s first Lehigh Valley location was approved by the Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners on Aug. 3, 2023, and opened a year later.
The restaurant is known for its known for its hand-battered, cooked-to-order chicken fingers.
Raising Cane’s founder and CEO Todd Graves opened his first location near Louisiana State University in 1996. It was named after Graves’ yellow Labrador retriever.
Friendly’s, which was formerly located on the Catasauqua Road site, closed in December 2022.
Charter school theater
Council granted preliminary/final lot consolidation and final land development plan approval for a charter school project.
The proposal involves the Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School and a 9,000-square-foot facility known as the “black box project,” located at 2470 Schoenersville Road. Wednesday night’s action involved a project theater component.
Council approved the plan with 24 conditions and 12 waivers.
Lehigh Valley Academy operates at 2400 Avenue C, the former headquarters of FLSmidth Inc. The charter school purchased that building for $15.5 million in 2022.