Steak 'n Shake permanently closes 57 of its restaurants amid coronavirus crisis
(Courtesy: Steak n Shake)
When it comes to dining options, there will be fewer steaks and shakes to be had.
Steak n’ Shake, the fast-casual restaurant chain, has been forced to close 57 of its locations due to the “adverse effect” of the coronavirus health crisis on its operations.
Steak n’ Shake’s parent company, Biglari Holdings Inc., announced the closures in its latest earnings report.
Related: Restaurant staff slowly return to emptier tables, smaller checks
“The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse effect on our restaurant operations, thereby resulting in the evaluation of company-operated restaurants for recoverability,” Biglari Holdings wrote in the report, adding that 51 company-owned Steak 'n Shake locations, as well as six franchise-owned locations, were shut down in the first quarter of 2020.
At the end of 2019, Steak 'n Shake operated 610 locations globally, though the vast majority were located within the United States.
Biglari Holdings did not specify where the 57 shuttered Steak 'n Shake restaurants were located.
Related: Trump says Americans could see a second round of stimulus payments: 'We're talking about that'
News of Steak 'n Shakes closures follows the chain’s recent “We’re All Essential” initiative, which aimed to support workers in essential industries — as well as “all Americans during these challenging times — by offering free fries to all customers, along with special meal deals for families.
"In such challenging times, we would like to do our part for our communities by giving out free fries to all," said Sardar Biglari, CEO of Steak 'n Shake, said in an April press release.
Related: Carnival cruise bookings soar despite coronavirus, travel company says
In addition to Steak 'n Shake, Biglari Holdings, Inc., also includes on its portfolio the smaller Western Sizzlin’ chain, as well as Maxim, Inc. (Maxim magazine), Southern Oil, and the First Guard and Southern Pioneer insurance companies.