JudgeFudge's Suggestions for New Shake Shack Locations

Eater announced last week that in addition to opening seven Shake Shacks in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, Danny Meyer also has plans to open up three more locations in New York within the next year.  Because Danny didn't offer any specifics in regard to locations, here are some he might want to consider: [bxA]

1.  Astor Place -- The original Madison Square Park location is only about fifteen blocks away, but a Shake Shack in the old Starbucks location would be a huge hit with NYU and Cooper Union students for whom anything north of 14th Street is a mystery.  Tourists are always checking out St. Marks, Astor Place is just a ten minute walk for West Village families, and throngs of bar and club goers from the East Village and the Lower East Side would flock to a location here if it were open late enough.  The old Starbucks even looks like the original Shake Shack . . .

2. South St. Seaport -- While tourists love the South Street Seaport because they feel like it's where real New Yorkers go, real New Yorkers generally avoid it like the plague. Adding a Shake Shack to the Fulton St. open mall would be game changing as it would attract Wall Streeters, City Hall workers, and Manhattanites who want a vital third reason to go to the Seaport other than the Ikea Ferry and a decent view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

3.  Park Slope, 7th avenue near Prospect Park -- I think it's safe to say that at least one new Shake Shack will be in Brooklyn.  While I'm rooting for Dumbo, I think that Danny Meyer will want to replicate the success of his UWS location by opening up shop in a family oriented neighborhood close to a park with a lot of foot traffic.  So, Park Slope it is.  This would be the least visited Shake Shack location by tourists or people from other neighborhoods, but I'm sure that Park Slopers would be proud to have a Shake Shack to call their own, and would make it a smash hit.  Also -- Five Guys had no problem opening in this neighborhood about a year ago.

4.  The High Line -- It's true, the West Side already has its Shake Shack, but a location under or around the High Line would be the other big attraction that the neighborhood really needs to bring tourists and foot traffic to the area. Residents of Chelsea and the West Village would flock to it, as would day trippers checking out the High Line park.  A Shake Shack would also be a delicious, affordable food option in a neighborhood overcrowded with glitzy, high end eateries. 

Update: Mere minutes after writing this post, Eater broke the very exciting news that the first new Manhattan Shake Shack location has been announced!  It will be in Nolita on the corner of Mulberry and Prince Street.  Downtown Manhattan, you have been warned.  Start hitting those treadmills now!