Posted by Adam Kuban, September 8, 2008 at 10:15 AM
The New York Times takes a look at the soon-to-open Upper West Side location of the Shake Shack. What's interesting here is that the writer, Caroline Dworin, looks at how Shack owner Danny Meyer and company will handle the line, assuming that it's going to be as crazy as the line at the original Madison Square Park branch.
“What we’ve done here is triple the amount of griddle space; so from a matter of physics alone, this line will have to move faster,” said Mr. Meyer.
Meyer also talked about how they've worked on the interior to allow the line to snake in on itself inside the joint.
I don't know if the line is really going to be an issue the way it is in Madison Square Park. Sure, when the place first opens, it will likely draw crowds of curious folks (I'll be among them). But after the initial hype dies down, I think the line will, too. Not to discount the awesome burgers at the Shack, but I think a big reason the line is as long as it is in Madison Square Park is that it's in the park. It's a pleasant experience to get out of the office, go grab lunch, and eat outdoors on a nice day. You can't replicate that on the UWS.
Of course, people do wait in crazy lines in other less-than-picturesque settings, like Artichoke in the East Village and Di Fara in Midwood, so maybe the burgers themselves will be enough to draw the teeming masses.
As an UWS resident, I hope I won't have to wait too long for my fix. I have a feeling with the proximity to AMNH and Central Park, it will get its fair share of crowds on location alone.
Maybe all those brunchers across the street at Isabellas will munch on a Shack burger while they wait in line..
Agreed -- locals and tourists in the neighborhood will definitely flock there, but I don't think that people who live in Brooklyn or downtown will go uptown just for the Shack.
I live right around the corner from the new location. There aren't many places close to the museum where you can grab a quick bite, so it's bound to get a lot of traffic. I think the UWShack will do just fine. I know I'll be there!
I predict that because of the planning (more griddle space for faster throughput, shack layout to snake the line), the line will not spill out into the street, and for that reason alone some people will assume that the UWS location is less successful and that the burgers must not be as good, even though they will be serving more burgers than at the Madison Square Park location.
@benzado: Given the quality of the food and service at all the Danny Meyer restaurants I've been to, I have no doubt the burger at SSUWS will be as awesome as SSMSP. Can't wait to try it.
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5 Comments:
As an UWS resident, I hope I won't have to wait too long for my fix. I have a feeling with the proximity to AMNH and Central Park, it will get its fair share of crowds on location alone.
Maybe all those brunchers across the street at Isabellas will munch on a Shack burger while they wait in line..
harrison at 11:00AM on 09/08/08
Agreed -- locals and tourists in the neighborhood will definitely flock there, but I don't think that people who live in Brooklyn or downtown will go uptown just for the Shack.
kathryn at 1:00PM on 09/08/08
I live right around the corner from the new location. There aren't many places close to the museum where you can grab a quick bite, so it's bound to get a lot of traffic. I think the UWShack will do just fine. I know I'll be there!
CandyBean at 1:04PM on 09/08/08
I predict that because of the planning (more griddle space for faster throughput, shack layout to snake the line), the line will not spill out into the street, and for that reason alone some people will assume that the UWS location is less successful and that the burgers must not be as good, even though they will be serving more burgers than at the Madison Square Park location.
benzado at 3:23PM on 09/08/08
@benzado: Given the quality of the food and service at all the Danny Meyer restaurants I've been to, I have no doubt the burger at SSUWS will be as awesome as SSMSP. Can't wait to try it.
Adam Kuban at 3:36PM on 09/08/08