By James Lomuscio
Shake Shack, the modern day roadside burger and hot dog stand serving up beer and wine at upscale locations in New York, announced today it will open its first true roadside Shack in Westport in the second half of 2011.
Burgers from the Shack Shake location in New York’s Madison Square Park. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Flickr user Makoworks
Thursday night company Chief Executive Officer David Swinghamer and Chief Operating Officer Randy Garutti appeared before Westport’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) to discuss their plans.
They said they planned to open the restaurant at 1849 Post Road East near the Fairfield line on the former site of the Pho Mekong Thai-Vietnamese Noodle House and Restaurant. (See WestportNow Oct. 14, 2010) An announcement today said it will open in the second half of 2011.
Pitched as family friendly, the executives’ plans to open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seemed to get favorable reviews from P&Z members, some of whom were familiar with the restaurant from other locations, or had heard about it.
Commission member Nora Jinishian, for one, said while she had never been to a Shake Shack, “My husband and daughter have had positive things to say about it.”
“This is the kind of business we’ve wanted to encourage,” said Ron Corwin, P&Z chairman, noting that the presence of a Shake Shack would fit the recently approved P&Z amendment easing restrictions on establishments looking to serve alcohol.
“It has elements that are highly consistent with what the commission wanted.” Approval of a special permit did not appear to pose a problem.
Only one aspect of the business, retro neon lights, seemed inconsistent with town regulations, according to Laurence Bradley, director of the Planning and Zoning Department.
Without wincing, Garutti said that problem could be solved by using LEDs, allowed under town regulations, to create the same effect.
Bradley noted that the next steps for Shake Shack principals would be to submit a site plan, get a special permit application and to schedule a public hearing.
As he left the podium, Garutti suggested that commission members mull it over by visiting a Shake Shack.
“If we know an application is pending, we can’t eat there,” Corwin responded, adding that it would not be off limits to family members.
Shake Shack is part of New York-based Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.
“One of NYC’s most lauded eateries and beloved community and family gathering places, Shake Shack is a modern day ‘roadside’ burger stand known for its delicious all-natural burgers, hot dogs, seasonal frozen custard, beer, wine and more,” the company said in a news release.
It said the Westport location near the Fairfield line “in this charming culture-loving Connecticut community…will be the first true roadside Shack.”
“My colleagues and I are thrilled to announce plans for our first Shake Shack in Connecticut,” said Swinghamer in the news release.
“We’ve been attracted to Fairfield County for quite some time, and we look forward to becoming a part of the fabric of this beautiful and vibrant community.”
At the P&Z presentation Garutti said Westport was home to several of the company’s investors.
“We’re really excited to bring our first ever location to Connecticut and especially to the town of Westport,” he said. “We’re humbly entering your town and look forward to being part of the fabric of your community.”
Garutti said the company was “responsible to our team first” who participate in revenue-sharing “right off the top” and hoped to bring plenty of jobs to Westport.
He said it was an environmentally friendly company – “Our tables are made from reclaimed bowling alleys” – and added: “We really try to be responsible in many ways, and especially to our local community.”
Of the Westport design, Garutti said, “We design it to fit its place.” He added, “We are a company that would rather under promise and over deliver.”
“Shake Shack was inspired by the many classic roadside burger stands sprinkled across the country, and it is incredibly exciting to have at last found such a location to realize a tradition that first began in America’s suburban parking lots,” said Danny Meyer, CEO of USHG.
The announcement said the Westport Shake Shack “will build upon the success of five siblings throughout New York City – Madison Square Park (the original Shack, founded in 2004), Upper West Side (2008), Citi Field – home of the New York Mets (2009), Theater District (July 2010) and Upper East Side (August 2010), as well as its new Miami Beach Shack (June 2010) and Saratoga Race Course outpost in Saratoga Springs, N.Y (2010).”
Shake Shack said it also recently announced plans for a location in Washington, D.C. and New York’s Battery Park City – both scheduled for 2011.
Sweet! Not only great burgers, but great ice cream to fill the void left when Ben and Jerry’s and Baskin Robbins’ closed!