Shake Shack Announces Yorkdale Opening Date

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Shake Shack is set to open its highly anticipated third Toronto location at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre on February 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM. The new location will bring the brand’s beloved ShackBurgers, crinkle-cut fries, and hand-spun shakes to one of the city’s busiest shopping and dining destinations.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre, one of Canada’s most prestigious retail destinations, is home to over 250 high-end stores and restaurants. The new Shake Shack will be located at the top of the first escalator leading to the food court, in a unique space that combines a former Illy Café mezzanine with an adjoining area that was once part of the former Eaton’s department store. The reimagined location will offer a spacious indoor patio, giving shoppers a stylish and comfortable place to dine between shopping excursions.

Adding a local artistic touch, the Yorkdale Shake Shack will feature work by Vivian Rosas, a Toronto-based queer Mestizx/Latinx illustrator known for her vibrant depictions of feminism, empowerment, and diversity. Her artwork will reinforce Shake Shack’s commitment to inclusivity and community engagement, aligning with the brand’s mission to create spaces that reflect their surroundings.

Shake Shack will occupy unit R-03 at Yorkdale, as well as expand into space 248-2 which was originally part of the second floor of an Eaton’s department store. Image: Oxford Properties lease plan.

Excitement Around the Toronto Expansion

“Toronto has been incredibly welcoming, and we’re excited to further our presence in the city with these two fantastic locations,” said Billy Richmond, Business Director of Shake Shack Canada. “Both Union Station and Yorkdale Shopping Centre offer unique opportunities to engage with our guests in new ways, and we look forward to becoming a part of these lively hubs.”

The Yorkdale location follows the successful launch of Shake Shack’s first Canadian restaurant at Yonge and Dundas in June 2024. The second location, which opened at Toronto’s Union Station on December 4, 2024, quickly gained traction, setting the stage for further expansion across the country.

Menu Highlights and Signature Offerings

Guests visiting the Yorkdale Shake Shack can expect the same high-quality menu items that have made the brand famous worldwide. The location will serve signature classics such as:

  • 100% Canadian Angus beef burgers, made fresh with no antibiotics or added hormones
  • Crispy chicken sandwiches, crafted with premium, responsibly raised chicken
  • Crinkle-cut fries, golden and crispy
  • Hand-spun frozen custard, made with premium Canadian dairy, real cane sugar, and cage-free eggs

With a focus on quality ingredients and sustainability, Shake Shack says it continues to prioritize ethical sourcing and environmentally friendly practices across all of its locations.

Shake Shack’s Canadian Expansion Plans

Shake Shack’s growth in Toronto is part of a larger expansion plan for the Canadian market. Shake Shack Canada, established in 2023, is a partnership between Osmington Inc. and Harlo Entertainment Inc., two Toronto-based private investment companies. The company has ambitious goals to open 35 locations across Canada by 2035, a move that underscores confidence in the country’s demand for high-quality fast-casual dining.

Globally, Shake Shack has grown from its humble beginnings in New York City’s Madison Square Park in 2004 to over 510 locations worldwide, including major cities such as London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Mexico City.

The Yorkdale location is expected to draw significant crowds on opening day, mirroring the enthusiastic reception at The Tenor at 10 Dundas Street West earlier this year. 

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