The Complete Story
A. H. 'Gus' Belt founded Steak 'n Shake in Normal, Illinois in February 1934 after serving four years in the United States Marine Corps. He converted a combination gas station and chicken restaurant called Shell's Chicken, which he owned with his wife Edith. Before the conversion, they had served all-you-can-eat fried chicken and coleslaw for 45 cents with beer for 9 cents.
The ubiquity of fried chicken restaurants in Central Illinois forced Belt to rethink his business model. When he opened the first Steak 'n Shake, the going rate for a hamburger was five cents, but Belt planned to sell his 'Steakburgers' at ten cents - double the price but made with premium ground steak. The first location featured only countertop seating and could serve up to fifty customers inside.
After initial success, Belt purchased a chain of Goal Post restaurants throughout central Illinois and converted them to Steak 'n Shakes, adding curb service. By 1939, Belt owned eight restaurants in Illinois. Gus died on August 20, 1954, and his wife Edith ran the chain until 1969. The original building survived a fire in the early 1960s and was sold to Monical's Pizza in the late 1990s.
Surprising Facts You Didn't Know
→ Before becoming Steak 'n Shake, the location was a Shell gas station called 'Shell's Chicken' serving all-you-can-eat chicken for 45 cents
→ Gus Belt charged 10 cents for a Steakburger when the going rate for hamburgers was only 5 cents
→ Belt was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served four years before opening the restaurant
→ The chain expanded to 8 restaurants across Illinois by 1939 - just 5 years after opening
→ The original building on Route 66 survived and is now a Monical's Pizza
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit Steak 'n Shake Original Location
✓ You Can Visit Today
Address: 1219 S Main St, Normal, IL 61761
What's There Now: The original building at the intersection of Main Street and West Virginia Avenue survived a fire in the early 1960s and is now a Monical's Pizza. The building has been preserved but no longer operates as a Steak 'n Shake.
GPS Coordinates: 40.4982515, -88.9946407
Photo Tip: Best photographed in early morning or late afternoon when the Illinois light brings out the building's character.
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