There Goes The Steak n’ Shake

There goes the Steak n' Shake in Augusta.

Remember back to the fall of 2012.  Can you?  Let me help.  On September 27^th 2012, the Steak n’ Shake opened on Jimmie Dyess Parkway in Augusta.

Remember the first couple of months.  It was almost impossible to get near the place, because they were serving…wait for it…hamburgers!  And MILK SHAKES!  We hadn’t seen anything like that before, or at least you would have thought so.  It was a few months before things calmed down, enabling us to just casually go through the drive-thru in a nice, orderly fashion.

Oh, remember when they added all of those Tesla charging stations? What?  For what?  Well, working in this area, and driving past the restaurant every day, I can tell you that those charging stations went from no one using them to them getting a fair amount of use.

That’s all coming to a crashing halt.  The Steak n’ Shake has closed.  Yep, after all of that fanfare more than a decade ago, it couldn’t sustain the business.  I hate it.  I hate seeing businesses, any business close it doors.  Especially when it was the only Steak n’ Shake in the area.

Whenever something like this happens, I tend to look inward.  I did it when the Whole Foods shut down.  We didn’t support it as their research said we would.  I always believe there was research.  These major corporations don’t just throw darts at a map to see where they need to expand.  They calculate, meet, meet again before making the decision.  In this case, they seemed to be wrong.

You can say, it just wasn’t what we wanted or needed.  You might be right.  I can tell you it will make other companies think long and hard before deciding to expand to the CSRA.  I know this, with the proliferation of the Mexican restaurants we have in town, most of them, very similar, there’s no way some large national Mexican chain will or should even sniff around this area.

It's unfortunate.  I hate to see it go.  If you travel the Interstate highway system, you’ll know it’s not the first Steak n’ Shake to close.  But it was OUR Steak n’ Shake.

Today, June 23, is recognized as National Family Owned and Operated Businesses Day. A day to salute family-owned and operated businesses that are surviving and thriving through this economy. In Augusta, we are fortunate enough to have tons of family-owned and operated businesses. This holiday includes all types of businesses. We are going to focus on the restaurants that are run by a family. So not just locally owned restaurants, but those where it's family owned and family run. It's cool to find out which places are a family-owned restaurant in Augusta.

Visiting a family-owned and operated business is always a special experience. If they only have locations in your area, you are getting a one-of-a-kind meal. And not everybody that is outside of that area can get that meal on a daily. Another reason it is a special experience is that they often strive to be customer friendly and make you feel at home.

This family owned Hawaiian BBQ spot has been in Augusta for years. They have recently expanded, opening their second location. One located on Gordon Highway and the other on Washington Rd.

Located off of Walton Way, this family owned restaurant is known for their southern cuisine. Offering a rotating selection of meats and veggies along with their local favorite - peach cobbler.

This family owned restaurant is located on the corner of 6th and Greene St. Something the restaurant lives by is "where our family feeds families."

On Walton Way is another family owned restaurant. The restaurant serves fish ,chicken, fries and more.

This Asian restaurant serves the cuisine of China, Korea, Malaysia & Thailand. They are located on Fury's Ferry in the Fury's Ferry Plaza.

They are most popular for their Mediterranean cuisine. A married couple are the owners and together, with the help of their three children, they are working to expand the restaurant concept throughout the Augusta area.

Augsburg Haus was opened by Adolf Hermann, serving authentic German food - recipes he learned from his mom. Sadly and unexpectedly, Adolf Hermann passed away on September 1, 2021. His family and friends are continuing his legacy by keeping his restaurant open.

Don't let the name fool you, they serve more than bait. This family owned café is located in Appling, Ga. They are known for their everyday food and American cuisine.

This restaurant may be new, but La Pena Bernal is not new when it comes to serving the CSRA.  They also have a food truck that has been around for a few years, that serves Tacos and Quesadilla. Their Anjoitios shop serves snacks, ice cream, and more.