Shake Shack Opening Blocks From The Beach

SANTA MONICA, CA — It's happening. Shake Shack is opening its first Santa Monica location just blocks from the beach this weekend.

The new spot opens Sunday at 11 a.m. at 501 Wilshire Blvd., at the former Panera Bread location, and has a walk-up window, patio and garden room, the company told Patch.

"This comes at the start of what is sure to be an exciting year of growth for Shake Shack, which is committed more than ever to providing guests with a premium experience as they welcome people back to their dining rooms," the company said.

The new Shack will feature reclaimed wood paneling by Pioneer Works as well as custom solar panels. It has a garden room with skylights, a spacious outdoor patio and a custom mural by Los Angeles muralist and artist Steph Hendrix.

It also has an app pick-up shelf, which is part of Shake Shack's new Shack Track — a digital preordering system. Locals can order using Shack Track, use the walk-up window or pick-up curbside or at the shelves.

“After years of searching, we are thrilled to finally bring Shake Shack to Santa Monica,” said Andrew McCaughan, Chief Development Officer of Shake Shack.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team for everything that went into this Shack; our commitment to sustainability via onsite renewables, a beautiful building by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture featuring our garden room, impactful local art by Steph Hendrix, and of course our Shack Track pick up window experience, making it easier for the people of Santa Monica to get their Shack. Pumped to share the Shake Shack Santa Monica experience with the community,” McCaughan said.

This location is also part of the company's new pilot program with Restore Foodware’s AirCarbon cutlery and straws. The company's mission is focused on reducing waste and working toward a more sustainable world across the food industry. AirCarbon is a biomaterial certified carbon-negative by SCS Global Services and Carbon Trust . The product reduces the amount of carbon in the air through production. The AirCarbon cutlery contains no synthetic plastics, PLA or synthetic glues, requires no food crops for production and is home compostable, soil degradable and ocean-friendly, degrading naturally if it ends up in the environment.

The company has also partnered with Westside Food Bank. Westside Food Bank was founded in 1981 remains the primary source of food for social service agencies throughout Western Los Angeles County. The organization ensures that low-income families and their children, as well as seniors, veterans, unhoused people, and those who have lost wages due to COVID-19 have access to free, nutritious food through 55 member agencies. Shake Shack will donate a burger for every burger sold on opening day to the non-profit organization and is excited to contribute to food security in Los Angeles.

The first 100 guests who order in-Shack or via the website or app on opening day will receive a custom-branded, 16 oz. glass showcasing a Shake Shack tribute to the iconic Santa Monica Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel.

The Santa Monica Shack will open with a limited menu but will feature all the classics, including the ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries and hand-spun shakes. The Shack will also open with some exciting limited time offers such as the Avocado Bacon Burger, a cheeseburger topped with freshly sliced avocado, Niman Ranch applewood-smoked bacon, ShackSauce as well as theAvocado Bacon Chicken, a Crispy chicken breast with freshly sliced avocado, Niman Ranch applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, pickles, buttermilk herb mayo.

The original Shack opened in 2004 in NYC’s Madison Square Park. The company now has more than 320 locations across the world, including 27 in the U.S. and the District of Columbia, and more than 100 international locations across London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, Philippines, Singapore, Mexico, Tokyo, Seoul and more.

The Shack will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visit the website to learn more: shakeshack.com.

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