Shake Shack to Open in Las Vegas in Early 2014

Happy Burger Week, Las Vegas, you're getting a Shake Shack. MGM Resorts has announced plans for a Shack as part of a new development they're building between New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts, an outdoor park area with restaurants and coffeeshops that lead up to a brand-new, 20,000 seat arena. Shake Shack previously denied they had any plans to build on the Strip after Eater Vegas reported rumors they were building a restaurant with Caesars Entertainment. According to Eater Vegas, "The jump from Caesars Entertainment to MGM has resulted in a space not confined by a casino and will allow for its own identity separate from a resort."

According to a Shake Shack release, "It will capture the essence and origins" of Shake Shack's original Madison Square Park location in New York City. Said restaurateur Danny Meyer, "This is a made-to-order fit for Shake Shack to serve in the first-ever park on the Las Vegas Strip." Also going into the new development: "a casual roadhouse restaurant and bar" called Double Barrel from SBE (which is also building an SLS hotel in Vegas), a coffeeshop called Sambalatte, an 800 Degrees pizzeria, and more. The development should be done in early 2014. Below, the press release.

MGM RESORTS OUTLINES VISION FOR DYNAMIC ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN LAS VEGAS FEATURING WORLD-CLASS ARENA, DINING, BAR SCENE AND RETAIL
Founding Partners, Including Hershey's, Shake Shack and sbe, Join Project Anchored by Arena to be Developed in Conjunction with AEG
Preeminent Design and Construction Team Announced; Includes Cooper, Robertson & Partners, !melk, ICON and Marnell Architecture

LAS VEGAS — April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) unveiled details today about the experience it is creating in Las Vegas surrounding the world-class 20,000-seat arena under development in partnership with renowned sports, entertainment and facilities organization AEG. Plans include new Stripside experiences at New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts and a public park leading to the new state-of-the-art arena. The Company also announced details about the team who will bring this robust new experience to fruition.

THE VISION
For centuries, plazas, squares and grand boulevards have served as important gathering places where people take in the sights, sounds and flavors of great cities. Enlivening one of the city's most exciting intersections, MGM Resorts will create an experience that encourages social interaction and one of Las Vegas' best-known pastimes – people-watching.

Providing opportunities for visitors to enjoy Las Vegas outdoors, this vibrant plaza will connect New York-New York and Monte Carlo as well as the newly announced arena on land behind the resorts. Construction will begin on the outdoor experiences at New York-New York and Monte Carlo in the coming weeks, with anticipated completion in early 2014.

Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, said, "All great cities offer vibrant pedestrian experiences, and Las Vegas is certainly no exception, as The Strip is one of the world's greatest boulevards. Our vision is to extend the excitement we traditionally create within our world-class resorts outside onto The Strip, and ultimately in an entertainment district leading to our new arena. To bring that vision to fruition, we have assembled a team recognized around the world for creating special venues and places."

LAS VEGAS BLVD. ENHANCEMENTS
The front facades of New York-New York and Monte Carlo will be transformed into an outdoor plaza experience featuring a series of casual bars, eateries and retail destinations. New York-New York will modify its skyline and Brooklyn Bridge to create a wonderful environment brought to life through a vibrant patio culture and retailers new to the market. Anchoring the new experience will be Hershey's Chocolate World™ flagship store, a two-story interactive, experiential destination that celebrates the incredible array of Hershey's-branded products that inspire the "Hershey's Happiness" mantra. Additionally, the hotel's Irish pub, Nine Fine Irishmen, will be enhanced, including an expansion of its high-energy patio culture both on the casino floor and the Brooklyn Bridge.

At Monte Carlo, the current formal European-style exterior features will be removed to make way for new partners, including Double Barrel, a casual roadhouse restaurant and bar concept by the leading hospitality experts at sbe; Sambalatte, the art of sipping found in the ultimate coffee experience, beloved by Las Vegas locals, and soon available to visitors; and 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, serving build-your-own personal pizzas prepared to each guest's liking and baked in around a minute in an 800-degree wood-burning oven, right before their eyes.

Between the two properties and leading back to the Company's new arena will be a park environment featuring dining pavilions and performance spaces complemented by areas for quiet relaxation. At the gateway to the park will be Shake Shack, a modern day "roadside" burger stand known for its all-natural burgers, flat-top dogs, frozen custard, beer, wine and more by restaurateur Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group.

Additional partners and details surrounding both properties and the park will be announced in the coming months.

· MGM Resorts Unveils Plans For Las Vegas Entertainment District, Arena [Press Release via Eater Vegas]
· All Shake Shack Coverage on EateR [-E-]