Middletown Steak 'n Shake could be first of several in Delaware

Jerry Smith | The News Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Delaware's 1st Steak 'n Shake preview Delaware's 1st Steak 'n Shake held a soft opening on Saturday ahead of its official opening on Monday

Tiffany Hill and Marvin Freeman look at the new Steak 'n Shake restaurant set to open in Middletown by month's end as sort of a hybrid.

The co-managers say the new 3,600-square-foot eatery at 100 Sandhill Dr. — formerly the site of Dairy Queen — is undergoing final preparations and inspections before opening.

Middletown's newest restaurant will offer sit-down, drive-thru and front-window service, making it a hybrid of fast-food to-go service and diner-style sit-down service.

"It's the best of both worlds," Hill said. "Customers won't have to come in and get a number. We'll bring the order to them if they dine in."

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The Middletown Steak 'n Shake will be the first in Delaware. But Sharath Ponnamaneni, who owns the business as a franchise with a group of investors, said there are plans to open others in the state.

He previously has said he and his partners plan to open Steak ’n Shake restaurants in Dover, Wilmington and the Rehoboth Beach area in the next five years.

Currently, the chain has 544 locations worldwide, of which 417 are company-operated and 127 are franchised. They are located primarily in the Midwest and South, but there are some locations in the Mid-Atlantic and points west.

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Freeman said that fresh-ground steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes are the highlights of the menu. But diners will also have many other breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, side items, and drinks to choose from.

"And all of the food will be made fresh," he said.

The restaurant expects to open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. the first month and a half, then expand to include breakfast from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for another 45-day period. After that, the restaurant will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.

Fully staffed, the Middletown Steak 'n Shake will create at least 60 jobs. Hiring has been taking place for weeks, but those interested in working there can email steakshakemtown@yahoo.com or stop by the Sandhill Drive location.

Janene Kolisz of Middletown wrote on the restaurant's Facebook page that she can't wait for the new restaurant to open.

"I lived in Florida and had one close to our house," she said. "So glad you are opening here."

Hill said she looks forward to offering something a little different in Middletown.

"We're bringing a new concept and a different brand to Middletown," said Hill, who lives in Bear. "It gives families a place to have a great dinner at a good price with great service."

Reach Jerry Smith at jsmith17@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JerrySmithTNJ.

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