2004-2008
Shake Shack's rise from a park kiosk (2004-2008)
Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group turned a Madison Square Park hot dog cart into a permanent kiosk in 2004. Shake Shack then expanded to high-traffic urban locations across New York and beyond.
Then
The kiosk drew long lines and became a destination, proving demand for elevated fast food in dense pedestrian areas.
Now
Shake Shack grew into a publicly traded chain with locations in prime retail districts across the U.S. and abroad.
Why this matters now
Shows how a fast-casual food concept establishes itself in high-foot-traffic corridors, the kind of setting 248 Newbury Street occupies.