The Issue With Raising Cane’s in Twin Falls That Nobody Smelled Coming

Unless you’ve been living in your mom’s basement, you’re well aware that the new Raising Cane’s in Twin Falls recently opened with mostly positive reviews of the food, but noticeable criticism of its location.

The Location Was Already a Traffic Headache

From the start, the biggest point of scrutiny was the location because of traffic. That corner was already busy. You’ve got Fillmore backing up from the light at Blue Lakes and stretching well past the roundabout. Raising Cane’s is also the first of several new additions going into that same area. With In-N-Out on the horizon and a multi-story hotel planned in the same complex, it’s easy to understand why people are already worried about the growth.

The Complaint Nobody Expected

But here’s the one I didn’t see coming. Smell complaints.

I recently was made aware of a conversation with someone who lives in the nearby Breckenridge neighborhood. Their complaint wasn’t about traffic. It was about a strong chicken smell drifting into the neighborhood, and they suspected Raising Cane’s.

Twin Falls Has Never Been a Scent Free City

Living in Twin Falls comes with its share of smells. We’re in an ag community. Between dairy across the canyon and other related odors, we're not exactly living in a scent-free bubble. That part of town can also catch odor from the wastewater treatment facility when the wind hits right.

Twin Falls has dealt with this enough that the city even launched an online portal where residents can report odors for investigation.

Why Raising Cane’s Became the Natural Suspect

I'm paraphrasing here, but the person who made the assertion said the chicken smell was strong and noticeable, and they pointed directly at Raising Cane’s as the likely culprit because it’s the newest addition in that spot. Restaurants aren't new to that location. Golden Corral was there for years, and nobody complained. (Or did they? I'm not aware.)

I Noticed It Too, Just Not in the Neighborhood

I’ve been to the new Raising Cane’s in Twin Falls, and I’ve noticed a food smell in the immediate vicinity. Before the Twin location opened, I visited the newer location in Meridian, and the chicken smell there was noticeable from the far end of a packed parking lot. So the idea isn’t completely out of left field. And this isn't the first time something like this has popped up. A Raising Cane's in Boston was involved in a lawsuit relating to a landlord who wanted to boot them because of alleged smells. 

So What’s Really Going On Here

The assertion makes sense, but there are some holes in the theory. Not only does a large shopping complex and a parking lot separate the neighborhood from the restaurant, but the wind in Twin Falls would typically blow the smell away from the neighborhood, not towards it.

So I’m also genuinely curious. Have you noticed a suspiciously strong chicken smell in the nearby neighborhood, or do you think this is just another case of someone looking for a new reason to complain about how fast that area is growing?