Shake Shack's 2nd Boston-Area Location Opens This Week

Happy New Year, Boston, you're getting another Shake Shack. A press release from the expansion-minded folks behind the beloved burger chain announces that on Thursday, January 2 the doors will open at the Harvard Square Shake Shack. This will be the second Shake Shack in the Boston area, the first having opened in Chestnut Hill in March. The Harvard Square location soft opened last week, serving desserts only.

The hotly anticipated Harvard Square location will serve the new fresh-cut fries along with custom concretes that pay homage to Harvard and MIT. Crimson Red Velvet concretes will feature "vanilla frozen custard blended with a slice of crimson red velvet cake from South End Buttery Bakery" while MInT Chocolate will feature "chocolate frozen custard blended with minted marshmallow sauce and chocolate truffle cookie dough." There are several other domestic openings on Shake Shack's horizon in the coming year, including Austin, TX, two in Washington, DC, Brooklyn, and Atlanta. Below, the press release:

SHAKE SHACK TO RING IN NEW YEAR WITH NEW LOCATION IN BOSTON

Beloved Burger, Hot Dog and Frozen Custard Stand Opening Second Boston-Area Shack in Famed Harvard Square

NEW YORK, NY – December 31, 2013 – Ring in 2014 with burgers, Bostonians! Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) is proud to announce its second Boston-area Shake Shack® will open in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday, January 2nd, at 11:00AM.

The newest addition to the Shake Shack family is located at 92 Winthrop Street in Cambridge's bustling Harvard Square. This location builds on the success of the Chestnut Hill Shack, which opened in March 2013 in The Street shopping, dining and entertainment center.

"We love Boston and can't wait for our grand opening in Harvard Square," said Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti. "Cambridge is absolutely amazing with its vibrant food culture, energized college scene, wealth of history, and central location. The response we've seen in Chestnut Hill over the past year has exceeded our expectations, and we're excited to further our commitment to Boston and deepen our relationship with the local community."

Shake Shack is a critically acclaimed, modern day "roadside" burger stand known for its 100% all-natural burgers and flat-top dogs, fresh-made frozen custard, craft beer and wine, and much more. A fun and lively community gathering spot with widespread appeal, over the past decade Shake Shack has earned a cult-like following around the world.

The Harvard Square location will serve Shake Shack's new fresh fries, currently available only at select locations. Hand-cut daily at the Shack, the new and improved fries are never frozen, twice cooked, skin-on, Idaho Russet potatoes.

Shake Shack's much-loved frozen custard—dense, rich and creamy ice cream spun fresh daily at each location—will be featured in cones, cups, shakes and concretes (frozen custard blended at high speed with mix-ins). Vanilla and chocolate recipes use only real sugar and no corn syrup.

The location-specific concretes pay homage to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, respectively: Crimson Red Velvet (vanilla frozen custard blended with a slice of crimson red velvet cake from South End Buttery Bakery) and MINT Chocolate (chocolate frozen custard blended with minted marshmallow sauce and chocolate truffle cookie dough). Also on the menu is fan favorite from the Chestnut Hill Shack, Lobstah Shell (vanilla frozen custard blended with locally-sourced lobster tail pastry shell, strawberry purée and ricotta cream).

From opening day through the end of January, the Harvard Square Shack will serve up a special edition Hasty Pudding Milkshake (vanilla frozen custard hand-spun with banana and salted caramel sauce) in honor of its talented neighbors The Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770—the nation's oldest collegiate social club and theater company, which is run by Harvard students.

As part of Shake Shack's community outreach efforts and mission to Stand for Something Good®, the Harvard Square Shack is partnering with Youth on Fire, a safe and confidential resource center for homeless, runaway and street-involved youth. Five percent of sales from the Lobstah Shell concrete will benefit Youth on Fire, and Shake Shack team members will volunteer at events run by the charitable organization.

In keeping with Shake Shack's commitment to green architecture and eco-friendly construction, the interior walls of the Harvard Square Shack are clad in reclaimed wood from a retired 19th-century paper mill at Mount Tom in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The Shack also features energy-efficient kitchen equipment and lighting. Chairs and booths are made from lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and tabletops are made from reclaimed bowling alley lanes.

· Yes, Shake Shack Harvard Square Is Almost Here [Eater Boston]
· All Shake Shack Coverage on Eater [-E-]