Shake Shack confirms that plans to expand to more Canadian cities are underway

U.S.-based fast food chain Shake Shack is expanding like crazy in Ontario, but other provinces may soon get their very own locations.

The recent announcement that New York-founded smashburger and milkshake chain, Shake Shack, is opening six new locations in Ontario landed with mixed reactions on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

On one hand, people living in the GTA are thrilled to have even more locations of the ultra-popular fast food company to get their ShackBurgers and Frozen Custards from, with the number of locations in the area expected to reach nine in under two years.

On the other hand, though, the rest of Canada is left wondering when it’ll be their turn. Sure, it was fair that the chain opened its first Canadian location in Toronto last year — it is the most populous city in the country after all, but nine? Save some shack for the rest of us.

Luckily, Shake Shack Canada’s business director, Billy Richmond, tells Dished Toronto that the company very much plans to bring the chain to the rest of the country.

“We’re definitely thinking about what’s next, and there’s a lot of enthusiasm around bringing Shake Shack to more Canadian cities,” Richmond tells Dished Toronto, though he’s staying aloof on many of the details about where and when that expansion will happen.

“I can’t give away too much,” Richmond tells Dished Toronto, “but let’s just say the interest we’ve seen from guests in other provinces hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

As for why the chain opted to expand solely in Toronto and the surrounding area first, rather than dropping locations in major cities across the country and calling it a day, Richmond explains that, “Staying local in our early days allows us to really get to know our guests, build an amazing team that embodies our values, and grow a strong community around our Shacks.”

“We’re focused on doing it right, not just fast,” he explains.

Richmond tells Dished Toronto that each and every Shake Shack location is “selected with care,” and that the company specifically seeks out “vibrant, high-traffic areas where we can become part of the local community” when establishing a new branch.

So far in Toronto and the GTA, that’s looked like major intersections, bustling nightlife strips, transit hubs and shopping malls, but where they’ll land elsewhere remains to be seen.

So, while Shake Shack is remaining tight-lipped about which provinces and cities will be the first outside of Ontario to get their own Shake Shack locations, the fact that non-Ontario locations are, in fact, on the way, is a step in the right direction.

Still hungry? Discover Dished Toronto on TikTok