The steakburger has landed.
Pooler’s new Steak ‘n Shake held its grand opening Thursday morning, marking the popular burger chain’s first entry into the Savannah market — and it may not be its last.
Pooler Mayor Mike Lamb and other local officials joined in the ribbon-cutting, and by about 10:30 a.m., the restaurant’s diner-style booths and tables were packed, with several seats still available at the counter.
The new store took about nine months to complete and sits near the Interstate 95 interchange with Pooler Parkway, just in front of Sam’s Club.
According to director of operartions Richard Toms, about 135 people will be employed at the location. The franchise is owned by Shake Group LLC, which also has a location in Statesboro.
“For us, certainly our intent would be to expand in the Savannah region,” Toms said.
Ken Withrow, Steak ‘n Shake’s corporate franchise director, echoed those sentiments. He said they like to see every franchise spawn at least one or two other locations, and Savannah would be a prime candidate for another location.
Withrow said the chain continues to expand in the U.S. and internationally, having just opened its first location in Dubai with 90 more planned for the Middle East.
There are about 40 Steak ‘n Shakes in Georgia and more than 80 in Florida.
Sitting at a six-top in the middle of the new space were classmates Cailee Stein, 18, Logan Stewart, 18, Andrea Wright, 17, and Lisa Thomas, 16. They’d all been given the day off school due to weather concerns and decided to attend the grand opening.
“It should be a national holiday,” said Thomas. “You can get a burger and fries for $4 and the best shake you’ve ever had in your life.”
“And you can get an egg on your burger,” added Stewart.
Asked where Steak ‘n Shake would rank on their burger-chain hierarchy — amongst competitors such as Burger King, McDonald’s and Five Guys — all four placed Steak ‘n Shake at the top.
Stewart said he’d be interested in trying Cook-Out, a North Carolina-based burger chain rumored to be looking at coming to Pooler Parkway.
Steak ‘n Shake was started in 1934 in Illinois and specializes in hand-dipped milkshakes, thin and crispy fries and burgers made of ground steak.
The Pooler location’s hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., with plans to be open 24 hours in about three to six months.
ON THE WEB
For more information on Steak ‘n Shake, go to www.steaknshake.com.