Last week I was walking by the building at 51-55 East 125th Street. I notice the store is for rent and there was a ton of individuals wearing Union Square Hospitality clothing/jackets. After doing a bit more research, I noticed this is the same group that owns Shake Shack and Blue Smoke from Midtown. Have you guys heard anything about either of these groups coming up to East Harlem? Did they sign a lease at 125th Street? I heard they were looking but hadn't found a spot.
This would be an interesting section for Shake Shack since the eatery does require a lot of foot traffic of which there is plenty of on 125th Street. This used to also be the Raymond Building which would have been nice for classic eatery if it was restored properly but the recent renovations would work more for Shake Shack since that eatery has clean lines to its aesthetics. The only tip we have on what Danny Meyer's restaurant group is working on came in last summer with an article describing a planned "modest bistro" which probably would not be a good fit directly on 125th Street: LINK
let's hope its not a shake shack...Because, well, Harlem Shake.
ReplyDeleteShake Shack is better then overpriced Harlem Shake which I really wanted to like
ReplyDeleteexactly.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a welcome addition, there are 2 seafood places and you can barely get a seat in either on
ReplyDeleteIt really doesn't make sense that East Harlem would get a Shake Shack before the area between Lenox and FDB... There is more money on the west side..
ReplyDeleteAgree - I dont need shake shack, I have harlem shake!
ReplyDeleteHarlem Shake is fantastic!
ReplyDelete@ anon 5:36 pm
ReplyDeleteThere will soon be two 32 story towers on Park and 125th. The money will follow...
I would love blue smoke in that area....with dinosaur on 12 th ave.
ReplyDeleteI actually would love a Shake Shack in Harlem but not in that location.
ReplyDelete110th street would be great, or somewhere near Morningside Park.
Shake Shack, I'm afraid, has become just another national chain. There are hundreds of them. While right now it seems appealing to Harlem, why doesn't Danny Meyer open an original restaurant up here rather than just a sure thing chain?
ReplyDeleteI don't know why people always say that Harlem is not deserving of the same kind of restaurants and stores that every other neighborhood has.. Why do Harlemites have to constantly travel outside of their neighborhood for these things when the opportunity is right here to have them for ourselves..
DeleteDanny Meyers often trains workers in the Shake Shacks and if they are ambitious, they move on to his other higher end restaurants and then to their own adventures. Seems like he started the new burger fashion that allows Shake Shack and 5 guys etc to exist.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there also an approx $700 million development approved by Bloomberg along 125th St east of Park Ave?
ReplyDeleteI would not prefer Shake Shack as Harlem Shake is way much better and healthier option!
ReplyDeleteCompetition is good for all involved. It will keep the owners/chefs on their toes and my burgers delicious.
DeleteHarlem Shake is no where near as good as Shake Shack. Danny Meyer has created a burger that people battle across the nation whether it or In & Out Burger is better. That being said, I would much prefer Harlem Shake improve its game to Shake Shack's level since I believe it's run by people who live in Harlem. We don't need chains. We need just constantly improving mom & pop restaurants.
ReplyDeleteThe small time entrepreneur risk takers (Harlem Shake) show what is possible, then the chain (Shake Shack) swoops in playing it safe
ReplyDeleteWasn't it David Bowie who said it doesn't matter who did it first but who does it second? Shake Shack has been rumoured to be looking for an uptown location for some time.
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