Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves will star in a new Discovery+ series, "Restaurant Recovery," starting Thursday, April 15. The show, which will feature new double episodes each week, follows the restaurateur and philanthropist as he travels to various mom-and-pop restaurants across the country and helps them rebuild and recover after the hardships brought about by COVID-19.
“The pandemic has been devastating to the restaurant industry as a whole, but thankfully, due to our drive-thrus at Raising Cane’s, we were fortunate to maintain our business,” says Graves via press release. “As a result, it became so important to me to pay it forward to those in need by offering financial and professional support. These great family-owned restaurants are important not only to their employees but also the community and owners who sacrificed so much trying to keep the doors open."
In each episode, Todd and his team will work with a local restaurant to provide creative ideas, renovations and financial support.
According to a press release, more than $100,000 will be invested in each restaurant, totaling more than $1 million overall over the course of the show.
"Our hope is that by providing a platform to highlight and amplify their awareness, these restaurants will be able to bounce back stronger than before,” Graves says via press release.
One of these restaurants will be Dallas' own Smokey John's, a barbecue restaurant owned by two brothers. The owners encountered problems not only because of COVID-19's closures but also because the Texas State Fair changes, which usually provides more than 30% of its annual revenue.
Other episodes will feature establishments like a beloved seafood restaurant in Louisiana and a 107-year-old candy shop and diner in St. Louis. The series will also include special guests like Shaquille O'Neal, Nelly, Snoop Dog and Rob Schneider, to name a few.
For more information and to see the trailer, visit RestaurantRecovery.com.