Shake Shack opens Pittsburgh location, 2 more in the works

Emily Spooner turned 24 on Monday. To celebrate her birthday, she headed to Shake Shack’s official opening day in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

The New York-based popular chain is known for its burgers, crinkle-cut fries and desserts including custards and milkshakes. Pittsburgh’s new location will also serve beer and wine.

Originally from New Hampshire, Spooner, of Highland Park, said she’s been to Shake Shack before, and she attended the opening in The Terminal with her cousin, mom and her mom’s twin sister.

“We’re all kind of big fans of it,” she said. “It’s always good to have an excuse to go to The Terminal as well.”

Spooner said the opening was the group’s first stop for her birthday, kicking off a day touring around the Strip District.

“There’s not too much to do on a Monday,” she said. “Especially being a birthday day, we were like, ‘Yeah, let’s make a trip of it.’”

Before the line formed for food, the opening ceremony included performances from Pitt cheerleaders and the Pittsburgh Steeline, an independent professional drumline.

Spooner said her group got a photo with the Penguins mascot, Iceburgh, as well. The event had “good vibes,” she said.

The first 100 people in line received a tote bag, designed in partnership with Love, Pittsburgh.

“We were worried we weren’t going to be (in the first 100),” she said.

Spooner said she prefers burgers that aren’t very thick, and Shake Shack has good options. “They just have really good burgers,” she said.

I’m here at Pittsburgh’s first Shake Shack location, which has just officially opened.

Check out the line: pic.twitter.com/cvREE54vYJ

— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) May 20, 2024

Brittnea Turner said she came out to the opening because she had some free time and wanted to support the chain.

“I am super excited that Shake Shack is in Pittsburgh,” said Turner, 42, of Brighton Heights. “I was hoping and praying that it would come to my city — my hometown — and so I’m so glad that we finally have a Shake Shack here.”

She’s been to several other locations, including New York, Nashville, Boston and Chicago.

Shake Shack has 12 locations in Pennsylvania — all in the Philadelphia area. The closest Shake Shack location to Pittsburgh prior to the Strip District’s opening was outside of Cleveland.

Turner said she’s partial to the custard, burgers and Shack Sauce.

Kate Marks was excited to attend Shake Shack’s opening. She dined there with her husband, Barry Marks, when they lived closer to New York City.

“I forced my husband to come with me — we’re both off from work,” said Kate, 42, of Wexford. “We were excited that it’s finally here in Pittsburgh.”

Kate said she enjoyed getting free stickers, but the pair missed getting the free tote bags, which she said was unfortuante.

The couple said they’ve been watching the Strip District grow over the last 10-15 years, as Barry, 43, of Wexford, used to live in the Heinz lofts.

“There was nothing here,” he said.

Kate ordered the Avocado Bacon Burger and a Strawberry Frosted Donut Shake, which is limited edition. Barry ordered the ShackBurger.

“I’m excited we’re getting more things like this finally down here,” Kate said of the Strip District.

Laramie Aronson, Midwest regional director of operations for Shake Shack, said the chain has been eyeing Pittsburgh for years.

“This is a community that we have long been looking to be a part of,” she said. “The opportunity that we’re finally here and getting to open our doors and welcome all of the amazing people of Pittsburgh is more than we could’ve ever hoped for.”

Aronson, who is based in the St. Louis area, said Shake Shack was looking for the best possible location to open its first Pittsburgh chain. The Terminal in the Strip District was the right place.

“It’s just the right moment in time that we could actually emerge into the community in a really impactful way,” she said.

The Terminal won’t be the only location for the Pittsburgh region, Aronson said.

“We’re going to be continuing to build out over the course of the foreseeable future, with two in our for sure planned pipeline,” she said.

A Shake Shack will open in East Liberty, and Aronson said the second will open in Robinson — toward the end of this year and into the next.