Local owners not shaken by franchise restaurant on North Campus

%E2%80%8BThe+interior+space+of+the+Street+Craves+side+of+the+restaurant+on+the+corner+of+South+Limestone+and+Avenue+of+Champions.+July+15%2C+2015.+Photo+by+Marcus+Dorsey

​The interior space of the Street Craves side of the restaurant on the corner of South Limestone and Avenue of Champions. July 15, 2015. Photo by Marcus Dorsey

Jamilyn Hall

A new restaurant, being built on the corner of South Limestone and Avenue of Champions on North Campus, is not likely to shake other local businesses across the street.

Steak ‘n Shake, at the new Limestone Park I Residence Hall, is expected to be opened by Wednesday, Aug.10, according to Charity Bradley, director of marketing at UK Dining.

“I think one of the misconceptions when new restaurants or businesses that come by, that may appear to be somewhat competing, is that we don’t want it to come in or we are worried about any type of competition,” Megan Spencer, communications  director for Street Craves, said. “But in reality the more businesses in that location, the better it is for all of the business there, because the more options you have, the more students it will attract to the area.”

A Steak ‘n Shake, built on Western Kentucky University’s campus, accepts meal plans, flex, plus, and normal payment options.

We hear great things about the Steak ‘n Shake that opened at WKU, though it is much smaller than the one we’ll have in Limestone Park,” Bradley said in an email to the Kentucky Kernel. “Steak n’ Shake is a great fit for a college campus and our restaurant in Limestone Park will be very close to downtown, giving not just the campus but the community another great option.”

Across the street from Steak ‘n Shake is Street Craves, Freakin’ Unbelievable Burgers, Noodles and Company, Pazzo’s and Jimmy Johns.

We encourage more businesses because it really helps all of us in the long run. Especially in that area, you know there is not a ton of parking and so the more student foot traffic that comes down there, and they see they have more options, they are more likely to walk down to that area,” Spencer said. “Honestly we welcome it. We work well with the businesses there.”

Steak ‘n Shake will not only give students another option to dining, but will add to the number of name-brand restaurants on campus.

“As far as their menu, they don’t sell anything we sell, and vice versa,” Owner of Pazzo’s Tom Behr said. “I think it will be positive.”