A new Steak ‘n Shake restaurant is coming to Northport in late 2026.
West Alabama businessman Ric Mayers recently finalized an agreement with the chain to develop a location near the intersection of Bridge Avenue and Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard, according to an announcement posted to Facebook by local influencer Tyler Hearing, who is partnering with Mayers on the project.
The restaurant is expected to open during the fourth quarter of 2026.
The breakthrough came after more than a decade of unsuccessful attempts to bring the chain to the Tuscaloosa area, according to a report from Patch.
Mayers first tried in 2012 but was told someone in Birmingham held the rights.
He tried again in 2018, only to be told development plans existed elsewhere in Alabama that never came to fruition.
When he later attempted to apply online for franchise rights, he found the entire state unavailable on the company’s website.
Everything changed at a wedding for an advisor to President Donald Trump, where a Steak ‘n Shake food trailer was set up outside the venue.
“I went out there to get something to eat and the guy handing out the food asked me what I knew about Steak ‘n Shake,” Mayers told Patch.
“I told him they had blocked me from doing Tuscaloosa and Alabama. He laughed and said, ‘Tell me about yourself.’”
The man turned out to be the company’s CEO, who then introduced Mayers to the brand’s owner, who was also attending the wedding.
“I talked to (the owner) for about 30 seconds,” Mayers told the outlet.
“He looked at me and said, ‘We’re going to do business together.’”
Known for its steakburgers, hand-dipped milkshakes, and fries cooked in beef tallow, Steak ‘n Shake was founded in Illinois in 1934.
The chain now operates nearly 400 locations nationwide, with 3 currently open in Decatur, Huntsville, and Mobile.
The Northport location will feature a vintage 1950s-inspired design with a drive-thru and a large outdoor patio, according to a rendering Hearing posted in this week’s announcement video.
“We can’t wait to bring this iconic American brand to our community,” Hearing wrote.
“Stay tuned… the best is yet to come.”
Efforts to reach Mayers for comment were not immediately successful.
Dining and Cooking