Pittsburgh is on the cusp of having its first Shake Shack, the popular burger chain known for serving satisfying smash burgers, crispy cheese fries and decadent frozen custards.
The New York-based chain announced Wednesday that its new location in Pittsburgh’s Strip District will open to the public May 20.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 10 a.m. at 1767 Smallman St. in The Terminal building. Guests can expect custom totes, stickers and postcards in collaboration with locally focused gift shop, Love, Pittsburgh, according to a press release.
The Pittsburgh location will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
The chain was founded in New York City in 2004 and has attracted a cult following since. It is known for its made-to-order burgers, crispy chicken sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries and desserts including milkshakes. The Pittsburgh location will also serve beer and wine.
Shake Shack has 12 locations in Pennsylvania, all in the Philadelphia area. The closest Shake Shack location to Pittsburgh is currently just outside of Cleveland.
As part of the grand opening, Shake Shack officials said the restaurant will be donating $1 of every sandwich sold at The Terminal Shack on May 20 to local charity 412 Food Rescue.
A second Pittsburgh Shake Shack location is planned for the city’s East Liberty neighborhood. No opening date has been set for that location.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.