Shake Shack has opened its highly anticipated Yonge & Eglinton location at 40 Eglinton Avenue East, positioning the American burger chain at the epicenter of Toronto’s most dynamic transit hub as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT prepares to transform midtown connectivity. The restaurant operates daily from 11AM to 11PM.
The opening comes as part of Shake Shack’s accelerated six-location Greater Toronto Area expansion, with the Eglinton site representing a strategic investment in one of Canada’s highest-traffic commercial intersections. Carbon Build served as general contractor with design by Zebra Projects, marking the fourth Toronto location collaboration between the firms and Shake Shack Canada. The company has committed to opening at least 35 Canadian locations over the next decade, establishing the Yonge & Eglinton corridor as a cornerstone of this ambitious growth plan.
Strategic Location and Market Positioning
“Yonge & Eglinton has been on our radar for a while,” said Billy Richmond, Business Director of Shake Shack Canada, in an interview with 6ix Retail. “The growth in this neighborhood isn’t just about new condos or office towers — it’s about a shift in how people live and connect here. We saw an opportunity to become part of that momentum and to build a Shack that feels like it belongs to the community, in a neighborhood that’s creating its own energy and identity.”
The 40 Eglinton Avenue East building sits on the north side of Eglinton Avenue East, just east of Yonge Street in the heart of Midtown Toronto, with public transit located steps away from the building. The location capitalizes on one of the city’s primary transit intersections, where TTC subway Line 1 currently connects with multiple bus routes.
The timing proves particularly strategic with the long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT nearing operational status after 14 years of construction. The completion of construction work represents a critical opportunity for the brand, as the intersection returns to normal operations following years of closed roads and ongoing disruption that affected foot traffic patterns along the corridor.
The Crosstown will provide a midtown connection between east and west Toronto with 25 stations along a 19-kilometre route, linking to 54 bus routes, three TTC subway stations and GO lines. The line will reduce cross-city travel from 70 minutes to 30 minutes, with connections to more than 40 other travel options along the way.
For Shake Shack, the location positions the brand to capture pent-up demand from area residents and office workers who endured construction disruption, while benefiting from dramatically increased transit connectivity once the LRT becomes operational.
Community Integration Through Local Art
Following Shake Shack’s established Canadian approach of partnering with local artists, Kirsten McCrea, known for her bold, patterned murals, has brought her signature creativity to the Yonge & Eglinton location. This continues the company’s commitment to community integration across all Toronto locations, with each site featuring distinct artistic collaborations that reflect neighborhood character.
“Our Midtown Shack will be designed to feel like a neighborhood hangout — more intimate and community-oriented compared to our larger, high-traffic locations,” Richmond explained. “The format is built for daily life, whether it’s a quick visit or a casual meal with friends and family. Kirsten McCrea’s mural brings in the color, energy, and personality that reflect Yonge & Eglinton’s young and vibrant personality. We want the space to feel like it truly belongs to the neighborhood from the moment we open.”
Each new location champions Shake Shack’s local values by collaborating with talented artists to bring each space to life. At the Yonge & Eglinton location, McCrea creates moments of joyful engagement through large-scale patterned murals and vibrant installations. Known for transforming unexpected spaces, McCrea uses radical creativity and colour to spark curiosity and delight.
Rapid GTA Expansion Timeline
The Eglinton opening represents the sixth Shake Shack location in the GTA within a remarkably compressed timeline. Shake Shack launched in Canada in June 2024 with its first location at Yonge & Dundas in Toronto. A second opened in December 2024 inside Union Station, featuring a full-service bar—the first ever for the brand worldwide. The third Canadian Shack followed in February 2025 at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
The expansion has been methodical yet rapid. The first of the new locations debuted inside Kitchen Hub Castlefield at 1121 Castlefield Avenue in Toronto. This was followed by Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga on August 19, 2025.
Additional Fall 2025 openings include Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Dr, Vaughan), while Yonge & Bloor (765 Yonge St, Toronto) and King West (556 King St W, Toronto) are scheduled for mid-2026.
Diverse Format Strategy
Shake Shack’s Canadian expansion demonstrates sophisticated real estate selection across diverse formats. Square One’s restaurant spans about 2,400 square feet, complete with an interior patio to accommodate mall traffic. Vaughan Mills represents the brand’s first compact food court location at approximately 860 square feet, demonstrating Shake Shack’s ability to adapt to diverse retail formats.
Two of Shake Shack’s upcoming openings, King West and Yonge & Bloor, highlight the brand’s strategy of securing unique, high-profile spaces in Toronto. The King West location, set to open in mid-2026, will occupy the former Majesty’s Pleasure space and feature two outdoor patios.
“The energy we’ve seen from Canadian guests since day one has been incredible,” Richmond said. “This next chapter is about more than opening doors—it’s about showing up for the communities we serve. Our intention is to deliver high-quality dining experiences that stand the test of time, and this GTA expansion sets the stage for Shake Shack’s long-term success in Canada. With plans already in motion, we’re excited to bring the Shack experience to more cities across Canada in the near future.”
Ownership and Operations
Shake Shack Canada operates through a partnership between Osmington Inc. and Harlo Entertainment Inc. Both Toronto-based private investment companies prioritize innovation, value creation, and delivering exceptional experiences. Osmington is a private commercial real estate and investment company controlled by David Thomson, chairman of Thomson Reuters and Canada’s richest person according to Forbes.
Menu and Canadian Sourcing
The Eglinton location maintains Shake Shack’s global quality standards while incorporating Canadian sourcing. The menu includes Shake Shack’s signature items, such as 100% Canadian Angus beef burgers, crispy chicken sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, and hand-spun frozen custard made with Canadian dairy, real cane sugar, and cage-free eggs.
Canadian-exclusive offerings include iHeart Butter Tart concretes and Maple Salted Pretzel Shakes, alongside beverage programs featuring Bellwoods Brewery beer and Rosewood Winery selections, supporting regional producers while differentiating from American operations.
Market Context
The Yonge/Eglinton area features abundant retail and food options at street level, including Aroma, Harvey’s, McDonald’s, A&W, Pizzaiolo, Starbucks, GoodLife Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Rexall and Loblaws across the street, positioning Shake Shack within an established commercial ecosystem.
Yonge-Eglinton ranks among Toronto’s fastest-growing Urban Growth Centres, with population projected to reach 40,000 residents by 2031. The area maintains an employment density of 31,000 jobs per square kilometre, with over 35,000 total jobs concentrated in office sectors.
The opening coincides with the anticipated launch of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, potentially positioning Shake Shack as one of the first major restaurant brands to benefit from the new rapid transit infrastructure. Looking ahead, the company has committed to opening at least 35 Canadian locations over the next decade, with plans to expand beyond Ontario into markets like British Columbia and Alberta.
Bottom Line: Shake Shack’s Yonge & Eglinton opening positions the brand at Toronto’s premier transit intersection, capitalizing on infrastructure investments and demographic density to anchor its aggressive Canadian expansion strategy.
Additional Photos from Shake Shack Yonge & Eglinton
Dustin Fuhs is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail, Toronto’s premier source for retail and hospitality industry news. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication, Dustin brings over two decades of expertise spanning retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality sectors. His experience includes leadership roles with industry giants such as The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Recognized as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025, Dustin delivers insider perspectives on Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, from emerging brands to established players reshaping the city’s commercial districts.