Iconic burger brand Shake Shack from the U.S. is making its Canadian debut in Toronto.
The company has announced it is opening a 5,500-square-foot restaurant on the northeast corner of Yonge and Dundas – one of Canada’s busiest intersections.
In a news release, the company said “Shake Shack Canada’s ambitious vision includes opening Shacks nationwide.”
“We are thrilled to confirm the rumours and open our doors at Yonge and Dundas, marking the beginning of a delicious journey for Canadians,” said Billy Richmond, Business Director at Shake Shack Canada, in a statement. “We’re excited to serve up our signature Shack classics along with some Canadian exclusives that we’ve developed with our local culinary partners to be enjoyed amongst Toronto’s dynamic cityscape.”
Shake Shack will be opening its first Canadian location at The Tenor in downtown Toronto, joining The Ballroom Bowl and Hard Rock Cafe which will both also open upstairs in the iconic building at Yonge and Dundas Streets.
Canadian retail expert Lisa Hutcheson, Managing Partner of J.C. Williams Group, who has an office kitty corner to the new Shake Shack location, said pedestrian traffic in the area has died down since COVID but it remains “a really robust corner.”
“Across the street from it is Yonge-Dundas Square which is a bit of a take on New York City’s Times Square. There’s events. It’s quite animated throughout the year with different festivals and events,” she said.
“The corner where Shake Shake is going has a TTC subway station. So it’s a really busy intersection and surrounded by Toronto Metropolitan University (the former Ryerson). And of course CF Toronto Eaton Centre is kitty corner. We are in the tower above Eaton Centre.
Hutcheson said it’s also a very high tourist area.
“It’s estimated that around 50 million people visit Yonge-Dundas Square every year. It’s high traffic. High visibility. I think the last TTC numbers I saw were around 26 million people come through that subway station. Some riders will come and get off right in the CF Toronto Eaton Centre because you can go either way. But a lot of the university students would be coming out of that station. It’s just really busy. It’s an interesting intersection because it’s called a scrambled intersection . . . to keep people moving at that corner.”
There’s a ton of burger joints in the market right now. And there’s a Five Guys restaurant just a couple of doors down from where Shake Shack will open.
“(Shake Shack) has really been doing a strong job of building brand awareness. They’ve built this brand in the U.S. So people that travel to the U.S. are familiar with it. They tested back in 2017, they did a pop-up over on University Avenue here . . . It was sort of a test and it had huge lineups. It was a real success,” said Hutcheson.
“COVID maybe delayed their plans but with such a great successful pop-up you can see that it would be a way for them to test to see how Canadians knew them and how they would react and they had a very, very positive response.”
Shake Shack Canada is a partnership between Osmington Inc. and Harlo Entertainment Inc. – Toronto-based private investment companies.
Shake Shack is known for its made-to-order Angus beef burgers, crispy chicken, hand-spun milkshakes, house-made lemonades, beer, wine, and more.
Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in NYC’s Madison Square Park, the company has expanded to over 520 locations, including over 320 in 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and over 175 international locations across London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Mexico City, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul and more.
“When Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in New York City’s Madison Square Park, their mission was simple: raise funds for a public art project. Over the years, Shake Shack has prioritized high-quality food at a great value, warm hospitality and its commitment to Stand For Something Good®,” said the company.
“The Yonge and Dundas location will uphold these values, featuring a thoughtfully designed space that reflects the city’s spirit while staying true to Shake Shack’s distinct aesthetic. Shake Shack has partnered with local Toronto artist, Briony Douglas, who has created an art installation to launch the brand in Toronto and bring a burst of creativity to the heart of the city. The art installation can be viewed starting today at the Yonge and Dundas location.”
“I’ve been a big fan of the Shake Shack brand for a long time and I’m thrilled to be working on this project to help give back to those in need,” said Douglas, in a statement. “It’s an exciting opportunity to blend my artistic vision with the infectious energy and community that both Shake Shack and the city of Toronto embodies.”
The brand said it will release one-of-a-kind menu items, including the Maple Salted Pretzel Shake.
“This Toronto-exclusive Shake combines Shake Shack’s signature soft, premium vanilla frozen custard with the rich and unmistakable flavour of pure Canadian maple syrup. This decadent treat pays homage to Canada’s iconic maple syrup industry while adding a local twist to Shake Shack’s classic menu,” it said.
