A Steak ‘n Shake franchise could open in Centennial as soon as early September, becoming the first of what could be five of the restaurants in the metro area.
Centennial officials have been working on the restaurant proposal for the Quebec Village Center at 8271 S. Quebec St., with franchise owners Tom and Connie Caruso.
“This has been kind of an ordeal,” Connie Caruso said Friday, though she’s hopeful the process is almost over and ground can be broken in late June.
Two land-use issues remain for the restaurant that carries a near-cult status for its premium milkshakes and steakburgers.
On June 20, the Centennial City Council will consider a request to operate the drive-through and diner- style sit-down eatery around the clock, along with the final development plan.
“If everything goes perfectly, it will likely open early fall of this year,” said Centennial spokeswoman Allison Wittern. Required building and construction permits already are under review.
The first Steak ‘n Shake opened in 1934 in Normal, Ill. The chain has grown to more than 500 restaurants, primarily in the Midwest and South.
About 400 of the restaurants are company-owned and the remainder are franchises. Sardar Biglari, chief executive of San Antonio-based Biglari Holdings Inc. that owns the chain, said last year at the shareholders meeting that his goal is to open about 1,500 new franchise sites in the coming years.
Caruso said she and her husband hope to open a total of five Steak ‘n Shake restaurants in the metro area over the next several years.
“It’s been hard finding locations,” she said. “We have lots of ideas and were hoping to take over buildings vacated by other businesses,” but they have run into snags such as prohibitions on being open 24 hours.
The 3,200-square-foot Centennial restaurant will be built with the chain’s new design that is 1,000 square feet smaller.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
