Raising Cane’s in Allston closed for foul odor to reopen soon

Local News

A spokesperson for the restaurant said they plan to reopen between Jan. 10 and 12 after a health inspection on Dec. 30.

A popular chain restaurant near Boston University will reopen this weekend after health inspectors noted a powerful smell in the dining area during an inspection last month, according to the chain and city records. 

Raising Cane’s at 949 Commonwealth Avenue has been closed since Dec. 30, local news stations reported. The windows and doors are covered up with cardboard and a “temporarily closed” sign.

A spokesperson for the restaurant said they plan to reopen between Jan. 10 and 12.

Inspectors with the Health Division of the Department of Inspectional Services visited Raising Cane’s at 949 Commonwealth Ave in Boston first on Dec. 17 and then on Dec. 30. At both visits, the restaurant had a “strong odor,” and the kitchen hood inspection had expired, according to city records.

“Establishment shall clean all areas properly to remove the strong odor noted in the dining room,” inspectors wrote. 

In the past few weeks, multiple customers have lamented the smell in online Google reviews.

“Smells disgusting inside, couldn’t breathe, smelled just as gross a month ago,” one customer said. “Smells like a septic tank in the whole place. Don’t go in if you have a weak stomach,”  another said. “Very strange smell inside. Needs to be checked out,” said another.

NBC News reported that a manager of the restaurant told the inspectors that the smell had lingered for several weeks. Cane’s had hired plumbers and HVAC technicians, but they still couldn’t figure out the source of the odor, the station reported.

A Raising Cane’s spokesperson did not comment on the smell specifically, but in a statement said the building on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Harry Agganis Way is more than a century old. 

“This location is operated out of a building that was built in 1916 and in need of what qualifies as routine municipality maintenance, for which we’re working closely with the city to address,” the spokesperson said.

Cane’s will reopen in time for the start of BU’s spring semester on Jan. 21.