Shake Shack and In-N-Out Are Going All-In on Portland-Area Expansion

After a year of devastation within Portland’s restaurant industry, 2021 will be the year of the buzzy fast food creep. While California burger chain In-N-Out still chips away at its plans to open locations near Beaverton and Bridgeport Village, the burger behemoth Shake Shack seems to be working on yet another expansion in the Portland area. The Oregonian reports that a Shake Shack is moving into Cedar Hills Crossing, and it could open soon: Shake Shack has already started hiring for that location.

Back in April, news broke that Shake Shack was planning on opening a location directly across from the Powell’s Books downtown, a premise that made tourists and East Coast expats salivate. Some found the timing and the prospect suspect, at the beginning of the pandemic when local restaurants were struggling. “Portland is a serious burger town—one suspicious of east coast hype. With local burger moguls like Super Deluxe’s Micah Camden expanding their reach, Shake Shack had better bring its A-game,” wrote then-Portland Monthly food editor Benjamin Tepler. “That is, assuming restaurants are able to recover after the pandemic. A future where only Shake Shacks remain in a scrappy, DIY city like Portland? Not a pretty picture.”

Then, in the summer, In-N-Out’s expansion plans in Portland began to surface: First, the Tualatin Life Facebook page shared that In-N-Out had its eyes on a Village Inn location near Bridgeport Village. By the end of the year, murmurs circulated that In-N-Out was also planning on opening a location on the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, which has some nervous about an increase of traffic in that area. The neighborhood is holding a virtual meeting to discuss the plans on December 28.

While In-N-Out already operates three locations in Oregon, Shake Shack would be a newcomer to the state. The burger chain founded by restaurateur Danny Meyer has scattered locations everywhere from Dubai to Atlanta, known for its frozen custard and portobello-layered “shack stack” burgers. Throughout the U.S., arguments arise over the merits of Shake Shack vs. West Coast heavy-hitter In-N-Out, the home of “animal-style” burgers and double-doubles. Still, Tepler’s point still stands: Will any of these imports hold up against some of Portland’s burger greats, if they survive? Either way, if the Keizer In-N-Out is any indicator, the lines and hype will be massive. Opening dates for any of these locations are unclear at this point, but for now, here’s a breakdown of the various proposed In-N-Out and Shake Shack locations, and where to learn more about them.

Shake Shack Downtown

Proposed location: 1016 W Burnside Street
Status: Portland’s Bureau of Development Services has approved Shake Shack’s proposal to open in that location.
Read more: High-profile restaurant project in the works [DJC]

Shake Shack Cedar Hills

Proposed location: Within Cedar Hills Crossing, which is located at 3205 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. The location is slated to land on the corner of Southeast Cedar Hills Boulevard and Walker Road.
Status: The mall’s website has listed the location as “coming soon,” and the chain is hiring a manager.
Read more: Shake Shack is already working on a second Portland-area location in Beaverton [O]

In-N-Out Beaverton-Hillsdale

Proposed address: 10565 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton
Status: Neighbors and locals can voice their thoughts about the proposed location in an online forum at 6 p.m. December 28. You can find more details here.
Read more: Fresh details emerge on Portland-area In-N-Out Burger [PBJ]

In-N-Out Bridgeport

Proposed address: 17070 SW 72nd Avenue
Status: Still under review, as of September, but preliminary planning has begun.
Read more: Preliminary Planning Underway for Tualatin In-N-Out [Tualatin Life]