By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
NOLITA — Shake Shack is back on the hunt for a downtown outpost to sling its famous Shack Burgers.
After restaurateur Danny Meyer recently abandoned plans to open at 47 Prince St. following staunch local opposition, a local leader told DNAinfo Shack bigwigs are back on the prowl.
Sean Sweeney, director of nonprofit SoHo Alliance, said he was approached by Shake Shack chief executive David Swinghamer a little more than a week ago.
“Apparently he hasn’t forsaken the downtown area,” Sweeney told DNAinfo. “He called me up. I gave him advice.”
The Prince Street location would have been the first downtown location for the burger brand, which attracts long lines of hungry patrons and dishes out hundreds of burgers a day from an existing outpost on the Upper West Side and its flagship location in Madison Square Park.
Sweeney said he suggested locations such as LaGuardia Place near Washington Square Park, Broome Street or University Place to Swinghamer.
“I recommended areas with wide boulevards that absorb traffic,” he said. “I discouraged streets like Mercer or Greene to avoid problems that were encountered before.”
The last proposed expansion for Shake Shack in NoLIta drew a slew of opposition at Community Board 2 meetings and a petition against the plan signed by more than 100 residents.
Debra Zimmerman, who organized local opposition to Shake Shack, believes the chain could exist in another part of the neighborhood, but added that an ideal spot would be hard to find.
“As Danny Meyer described it when he came to meet with us about his plan, the concept for Shake Shack is a piazza — that people should sit around and enjoy food together,” she said. “But you need space for that.”
Shake Shack remained tight-lipped about their plans.
Theresa Mullen, a spokesperson for the company, responded to questions about a new downtown location with a generic statement.
“We are open to bringing Shake Shack to compelling sites in great neighborhoods," she said. “At this time we are focusing our efforts on the operations of our existing Shacks, as well as three new Shacks slated to open in summer of 2010.”
Shake Shack has locations planned for the Theater District, the Upper East Side and Miami Beach.
Sweeney said going forward he hopes Meyer’s group continues to reach out for community feedback before any plans are pursued.
“They made the mistake of not coming to the community first,” said Sweeney. “I’m glad [Swinghamer] called me up so we don’t waste time.”
