Photo courtesy of Shake Shack
Shake Shack burger, fries and shake.
Old Town Alexandria will welcome its first Shake Shack, with the popular burger and shake chain planning to open in the former Burke & Herbert Bank building at 621 King St. in Old Town Alexandria.
The company filed permit requests in December 2024 and is currently seeking approval for new signage and building exterior renderings from the Board of Architectural Review. The application is scheduled for review at the board's meeting on Wednesday, July 2.
Shake Shack aims to open its doors in Alexandria sometime in 2025. This will mark the 12th location for the chain in Virginia.
Shake Shack's story began in 2001, not as a burger empire, but as a humble hot dog cart in New York City's Madison Square Park. This cart was part of an art installation and a broader effort to revitalize the park, which had fallen into disrepair. It was spearheaded by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer and his Union Square Hospitality Group.
The hot dog cart was a huge success, drawing long lines and proving the demand for quality, casual food in the park. Building on this popularity, Meyer won a bid in 2004 to establish a permanent kiosk in Madison Square Park, and thus, the first official Shake Shack was born. It was designed as a modern take on the classic American roadside burger stand, offering gourmet hamburgers, hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries, and milkshakes.
Initially, Shake Shack wasn't intended to become a chain, but its immediate success and the consistent lines of eager customers demonstrated a clear market for expansion.
Key milestones in Shake Shack's history include:
- 2001: The hot dog cart first appears in Madison Square Park.
- July 2004: The first permanent Shake Shack kiosk opens in Madison Square Park.
- 2008: The second Shake Shack opens on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
- 2010: Shake Shack expands outside of New York City, opening its first location in Miami Beach. It also opened additional NYC locations in the Theater District and Upper East Side.
- 2011: The brand begins its international expansion with a location in Dubai and later Kuwait. It also secured prime locations in Grand Central Terminal and JFK Airport in NYC.
- Early 2015: Shake Shack becomes a publicly owned company through an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Today, Shake Shack has grown into a global phenomenon with hundreds of locations worldwide, known for its high-quality ingredients, emphasis on hospitality ("enlightened hospitality" is a key philosophy of Danny Meyer), and its commitment to being a community gathering place.
