The new Steak ‘n Shake, 741 E. State St., opens for business Wednesday.
Steak ‘n Shake’s hours are currently from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Once the business trains more staff, the hours will expand, owner Jim Stricklin said.
“I don’t have a time frame on that,” Stricklin said. “Eventually we will have full breakfast, so we will open at 6 a.m. and we will also be open later, and quite possibly 24 hours.”
The last month has been filled with preparation for the establishment’s opening. Stricklin describes this process as a “knock-out list.”
“Everything kind of funnels into one place and you just need to get all of your last details ready,” Stricklin said. “There’s quite a few things that bring it all together, and typically the last month is just trying to calm the chaos.”
Electrical work, installing equipment, hiring associates and staff training and ordering food have all been a part of Stricklin’s knock out list.
On the opening day, the restaurant will run like any standard business day. There will be a formal grand opening later once things have calmed down at the restaurant, Stricklin said.
Emily Formoso, a sophomore studying history education, said she’ll likely go to Steak ‘n Shake. She does, however, wish that the location was different.
“I would definitely like it closer to campus,” Formoso said. “That’s like a late night food thing.”
Despite the cold weather that led Ohio University to cancel Wednesday classes, Stricklin is still optimistic about the opening day. In the past three days, Stricklin has told about 1,000 people over the phone that the restaurant isn’t open yet. Now that Steak ‘n Shake is open, Stricklin said people will love coming in.
“The one thing that college kids do like is milkshakes, and they like cheap burgers and fries,” Stricklin said. “It’s got a great price point where they can afford when they’re not with Mom and Dad, and it’s just good food.”
Customers can come into Steak ‘n Shake from 2 to 5 p.m. every weekday for happy hour. All milkshakes and regular drinks are half off, Stricklin said.
