High steaks for Shelby as LongHorn scheduled to open Sept. 8
- Chuck Thompson
- Aug 14, 2025
- 3 min read
The sounds and smells of a sizzling seared steak are indescribable, but you’re picturing it – and can almost smell it in your head right now. And it won’t be much longer until the new LongHorn Steakhouse opens in Shelby.
“Originally we we’re supposed to open until 2026,” explained Shelby Manager Jeremy “JT” Taylor. “Then it was November, and then October, but the date keeps getting pushed up, and we’re really excited to open the doors.”
He said they have hired about a dozen people, but the total number of employees needed to be fully staffed is roughly 70.
“All our interviews have been full and we’re doing three interviews an hour,” he added. “We’re hiring great people, but we need everything – cooks, dishwasher and bussers.”
No stranger to the restaurant business, Taylor has been in the industry for 20 years and spent five years with LongHorn. He said he likes the work environment.
“I worked hard, and worked at different locations, and was promoted quickly. This is the greatest company I’ve ever worked for,” Taylor said.
He said the excitement is felt across Shelby, noting when he goes somewhere around the city, wearing a LongHorn shirt, people notice and will approach him and ask for updates about when the restaurant will open.
“The encouragement and excitement is amazing. People really can’t wait for us to open,” he smiled.
He confirmed that Sept. 8 is the official opening date for Longhorn.
“We’re going to be nonstop busy that day,” said Taylor. We’re not opening until 3 p.m., but I expect it to be a huge day.”
He noted he is planning to reach out to the Mayor of Shelby, Stan Anthony, to invite him and others to the grand opening.
Taylor said he is looking forward to getting out in the community, meeting residents and business owners across Cleveland County. He is also looking forward to watching the ALWS and attending the Liver Mush Festival.
And as opening day creeps slowly closer, Longhorn will be running on all eight cylinders.
“We’re ready – we’re just ready,” he added “I guarantee that we will push out the greatest food in Shelby. I personally believe we will have the best quality food. If you like vegetables, we have vegetables. If you want steak – hey, you’re in the right place. Just know that when you come here, you’re going to get a good plate of food, have fun and leave full.”
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To apply for a position at Longhorn he said to go online to LonghornSteakhouse.com . You select the Shelby location and then it will prompt the applicant to pick an interview time and date, but as JT said, the available spaces up until time of this publication, have been completely booked. He said they hope to have everyone hired as soon as possible.
The doors of Longhorn Steakhouse, Shelby, will open to the public on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at 3 p.m., located at 1235 E Dixon Blvd Shelby, NC 28152.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter for The Shelby Independent.
