By Bill Parry
Shake Shack, the burger joint with a cult-like following, is coming to the Queens Center mall. Construction is underway at the former location of Urban Outfitters, on the ground floor, at the corner of 59th Avenue and 92nd Street in Elmhurst.
The new restaurant will open in 2016 and join locations at Citi Field and JFK airport, There are no further plans for other Shake Shacks in Queens, according to a company spokeswoman.
Known for its 100 percent all-natural, antibiotic-free Angus beef burgers, the critically acclaimed, modern-day “roadside” burger stand got its start at a hot dog cart in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park to support an art installation in 2001. Fans lined up at the cart daily for the next three summers.
In 2004, Shake Shack won a bid to open a permanent kiosk in the park and now they are worldwide with locations in Dubai, Britain, Turkey and Russia. In addition to burgers, Shake Shack offers griddle-crisp flat-top hot dogs, fresh-made frozen custard and more.
Laura Enoch, Shake Shack’s Senior Marketing Manager, said the new restaurant will create “a fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
