The downtown Indy Steak 'n Shake underwent a $1M renovation. Here's what's new.
When Steak ‘n Shake reopened at 101 W. Maryland St. after a month of renovations, it did so as a practically new restaurant.
It added seven self-serve kiosks to account for the dining room going serverless — a transition being made at all of the Indianapolis-based brand's more than 500 units.
The kiosks will help to keep prices down, said owner Rick Weaver, who took over the formerly corporate-owned store in November 2021.
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“Our goal is to keep the food prices at the absolute minimum,” he said. “That was kind of the heart behind taking away the servers, so that we could keep the food prices low.”
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The changes at the downtown store went far beyond what the company did for other locations, spending about $1 million, Weaver said. That’s five to 10 times the amount spent to ready other restaurants for their dining room reopenings.
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More changes are coming to Maryland Street. The restaurant, which currently closes at midnight, is looking to extend hours until 4 a.m. It had been a 24-hour operation.
Here’s what else is new:
Seven self-serve ordering kiosks — some taking credit cards only, and others accepting cash and credit. Staffers are around to assist customers with using the machines, but customers are still able to order with a cashier at the counter. Ordering is also available at the staffed walk-up window outside, on which the restaurant has depended to operate through the pandemic.
A pair of self-serve fountain drink stations.
Paper straws to which the company has converted.
Two bright bulb-studded white exterior signs unique to the downtown store, which replaced standard red signs.
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Red padded booths, chairs, stools and tables — enough to seat about 136 — replaced the black and white furniture at which customers dined before.
Gray flooring that replaced black and white subway tile.
An outdoor speaker system, allowing those waiting outside to hear orders ready for pickup inside.
Walls, ceiling, lamps over dining tables, kitchen hoods and production equipment.
A staff of 38 employees, compared to about 12 when it was corporate-owned and operated as carryout only.
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In addition to servers, a couple of things are missing with the remodel. Gone are:
Seating at the counter. “We used to have bar seating where people could watch us on the grill,” Weaver said. “They can still watch us, but it's just not the bar seating anymore.”
The $4 meal deals, and the happy hour specials where drinks and shakes are priced half off. Both of those deals are still available at other locations.
Steak ‘n Shake, 101 W. Maryland St., 317-634-8703, is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Online ordering is available at steaknshake.com.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter: @cherylvjackson.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Downtown Indianapolis Steak 'n Shake: What's new after $1M renovation
