Steak ‘n Shake franchisee: “I can assure you we’re coming”
It’s been one delay after another for the Roanoke Steak ‘n Shake that is planned for Crossroads Mall.
In July, the Steaks of Virginia franchisee announced that it was opening several Steak ‘n Shake restaurants in Virginia, including one in Roanoke outside Crossroads Mall on Hershberger Road.
The restaurant was initially set to open in December, then it was early summer.
To date, construction has yet to begin, and the site sits empty (except for some weeds and trash which resulted in this June 6 citation from the city).
Lee Garvin, the franchisee’s director of real estate and development, said the project was initially delayed because of the opening of a Steak ‘n Shake in Richmond. Then they ran into problems with the building plan for the Roanoke restaurant and had alter the design. On Tuesday he told me that his department has been sidetracked with other projects (they are building a restaurant in Virginia Beach and Fredericksburg), but that they are getting “real close” to breaking ground in Roanoke. He wouldn’t give a time frame.
I mentioned that several readers had given up hope of ever getting a hand-dipped milkshake and steakburger in Roanoke.
“We’re coming. Trust me. We’re coming,” he said.
Steaks of Virginia has already invested in the Roanoke restaurant. It purchased the property at Crossroads in November for $1 million, according to city real estate records.
June 20, 2012 - 6:00 AM
Well, this is definitely a step in the right direction!
I guess I’ll go camp out there, like at the Chick Fil A in Salem.
They should try to sell the property to Cook Out. Now that’s some good food.
@Original Greg: That’s what I keep hearing from readers (regarding the food). I’ve never been to a Cook Out, but many readers have asked if one is coming to Roanoke. I can’t anyone at the company to respond to my voicemails and emails.
“We’re coming. Trust me. We’re coming,” I hope so, I love their food.
As far as the Cook Out–They also have great food and I would love to see one here in Roanoke
Cook Out! Now Original Greg has a great idea. Cook Out is headquartered in Greenboro. Closest to Roanoke is Eden, NC and Blacksburg. Actually there is another company located in Burlington, near Greensboro, that would be a big hit here, Biscuitville. Closest to us in in Martinsville. If I win tonight’s lottery, I’ll try to get both here. Nothing against Eden and Martinsville, but how do they get these gems and Roanole does not?
There’s a Cook Out in Lynchburg too, I believe.
There used to be a Biscuitville on Williamson Road about 20 years ago.
COOKOUT COOKOUT COOKOUT. 5 years ago it was 3 stores in NC and now they are popping up everywhere here except for Roanoke/Salem. BRING IT HERE PLEASE!
Most folks are right about CookOut. Great food at a reasonable price. However ‘Blue in the face’ there were a lot more that 3 CookOuts in NC, they are ALL OVER NC, and SC. and now have expanded into TN and VA.
http://www.cookoutnc.com/
I bet that if Salem were to look into getting either of these restaurants that it would be in Salem in a matter of months. Salem is on top of taking care of bringing businesses to their area to increase revenue, etc. Roanoke just has poor administration.
Roanoke has poor administration? How can Roanoke as a city, force someone to become a franchisee and bring a specific restaurant to town?
Cook Out! is really not that great. Cheap does not make it good.
I’m so over Steak n Shake. I will believe it when they open.
Cookout would do well in Roanoke they popping up everywhere in VA now except Roanoke
@Bill – No. . .but cooking meat over an open flame instead of in a frying pan doth make it goody. . . .
Re: Biscuitville, the Tudors Biscuits operator/owner was a franchisee years ago, and yes, Roanoke once had one on Williamson Road. It failed. Never saw it myself, Tudors has them beat by a mile.
Shutter the Wendy’s, Arby’s and Hardee’s, and bring on the Cook Outs, Steak ‘N Shakes and (never happen) In ‘N Out Burgers! I mean really, they’re just chain restaurants, but since all of the affordable, good locally owned places were run out of business by them in the ’60s, I guess its all we have left.
Cookout has a location on U.S. 11 in Pulaski County, just across the New River from Radford. It is always busy. As for Steak & Shake, my wife is from St. Louis and goes into steakburger withdrawal if we don’t make an occasional pilgrimage to Greensboro for an S&S fix.
I ate at Cook Out twice, and I wasn’t impressed with the food (for the record I don’t really like any fast food, it’s almost all greasy, cheap stuff I would never bring into my house and prepare for myself). The shakes though, I’ll go for those…
Yeah, right.
With all the delays and excuses for what a year now? It sounds like to me Steak ‘n Shake is poorly run and managed. When and if they do ever build and open I say it will not be long before they close. Obviously they haven’t a good plan ahead. The excuse they had other locations to open is a poor one. They already knew (at least I would hope they did) that they had these locations to open when they announced the location here in Roanoke.
Scrap the S&S and bring on Cookout. They seam to have thing in order and have a clue what they are doing.
It’s obvious that the ones that are showing their displeasure for Steak n’ Shake have no idea what they are talking about.
I have no idea why this is such a big deal. Another burger place…big whoop. Who cares if they build or not, seriously.
Kristen,
Steak n’ Shake is not just another burger place. Steakburgers taste totally different than your basic hamburger. They also have chili, and other choices. Their milkshakes are also very good. Plus the food is cheap. You can get a triple steakburger, fries and a drink for considerably less than what you would pay for a similar meal at the fast food joints. Give Steak n Shake a try, I promise it won’t disappoint.
I will tell you I have been to Steak&Shake in several different areas and once it arrives everyone will see why it has been worth the wait as I have driven to Greensboro several times just to eat there. The food is wholesome made to order and very affordable.
As for delays consider the processes they have to go through with zoning building permits and everything else that goes with opening a business. I know myself as well as many friends and family will be glad to see them open. I myself may do the camping out thing to make sure I am as close to first in line as possible.
I have been to the Steak & Shake in Richmond, this past May. It was a very nice restaurant, new, extremely clean and overstaffed. It had the 50s diner feel. There was a counter you could sit at, plus booths and tables. The kitchen was completely open. We had to wait a line to get in, but the turnover was amazing. We waited about 10 minutes to sit, ordered, ate and were out of there 30 minutes later. I was there with my two daughters, and our total bill was $14. Sweet Tea was just $.99, which was nice because I often pay double or more at other restaurants. The food isn’t 5 star, but definitely very good, excellent value. The Richmond restaurant is owned by the same people building the Roanoke one. I have no doubt it will be a huge hit, especially at it’s location. You can’t get into McDs at Crossroads at lunchtime, so it is nice we will have another option.
There is a Cookout in Blacksburg and Radford and they could not hold a candle to Steak N shake. It’s not even close.
I get to the CookOut in Radford once every few weeks, and it’s great, but I agree with Wes — Steak N Shake has tastier food.
I think we have our answer cook -out is coming to the site that steak and shake was going to buy.case closed.
Not the same site, thomas. Cook Out is a block up in the 1400s. Steak n Shake’s site is 1309.
Thomas, it’s not case closed. Steak and Shake had the building permit at 1309 Hershberger which is the old Western Sizzlin lot. Cook Out is 1423. Which looks to be in the parking lot of Kmart.
Here it is oct 5 2012 and that spot still sits like it was a year ago. i really dont think its coming and if it is i think it will be to late since cook out is already building right up the street…….