Steak 'n Shake, an American brand known for its Steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes, opened in Santa Monica's famous Third Street Promenade. The opening, which marks Steak 'n Shake's coast-to-coast expansion, was celebrated by Steak 'n Shake fans with a special ribbon cutting ceremony and launch party fit for Hollywood.
The restaurant features a counter-service model, offers a simple menu consisting of only the freshest ingredients, and serves up its 100 percent beef Original Double 'n Cheese Steakburger, along with hand-dipped milkshakes. The Santa Monica Steak 'n Shake also features The Signature Steakburger—a thick, six-ounce, all natural 100 percent beef Steakburger made of only the top grade of the finest cuts of meat, with no preservatives, hormones, or antibiotics. The menu also features Thin 'n Crispy fries that are hand-cut daily in the restaurant and created from russet potatoes. The restaurant also serves beer and wine.
The restaurant's ambience is complemented by architecture designed to be sleek, modern, inviting, and suitable for everyone's enjoyment. The venue also takes advantage of Santa Monica's sunshine with outside seating where guests who can enjoy a view of the Promenade.
"For 80 years, Steak 'n Shake has served guests the finest burgers and shakes in the business,” says Jim Flaniken, senior vice president marketing for Steak ‘n Shake. “Now we're thrilled to introduce our freshness, quality, and great value to the West Coast in the iconic Santa Monica community. The Santa Monica restaurant and our recently opened office in Los Angeles speak to our commitment to expanding through franchising in the Western United States."
Steak 'n Shake guests enjoyed a festive celebration with female celebrity DJ Casey Connor and photo opportunities with the Maxim girls in attendance. YouTube celebrity and ardent Steak 'n Shake fan iJustine (Justine Ezarik) was on hand to share the experience real-time via social media, and a photo booth gave guests a one-of-a-kind souvenir from the day.
The first 100 customers in line for the grand opening celebration received free Steak 'n Shake for a year.
To continue the celebration online, Steak 'n Shake is hosting a social contest allowing all fans and followers to participate nationwide. In order to enter, fans must share a photo showing why they love Steak 'n Shake, using the hashtag #SNScoast2coast. Five lucky winners will be awarded free Steak 'n Shake for a year.
The Santa Monica opening is the latest step in Steak 'n Shake's continued expansion—both geographically and with new formats. Steak 'n Shake is a top five performer in the "QSR 50 Burger Segment" based on average sales per restaurant, according to the latest QSR Magazine rankings, and the chain recently opened its first European locations in Ibiza, Spain, and Cannes, France.