Per usual, Dallas has seen its slew of new restaurants in 2016, but no grand opening has been met with as much anticipation as that of Shake Shack. The name alone evokes the kind of New York cool Dallas could use a bit more of, and a hankering for frozen custard. As we prepare our bodies and our minds for the transformative experience caused by a cheeseburger topped with Pecan Lodge’s jalapeño cheese sausage link (aka Dallas’ exclusive Link Burger), we hopped on a call with Shake Shack’s vice president of development, Andrew McCaughan, to learn more about the thing we at D Home might appreciate even more than cheese fries: the space itself. 
What brings you guys to Dallas?
We first started looking at Dallas several years ago. It took us a long time to find the right spot. When we first met with The Crescent, they were planning their redevelopment, and wanted to use that green corner [facing McKinney Avenue]. As Uptown has developed, it became a natural fit. When we saw the opportunity, we jumped all over it.
Tell me a little more about the look of this Shack.
The team at The Crescent recommended we work with The Beck Group, and came up with the concept of playing off the work of Philip Johnson, the original architect behind The Crescent. We envisioned this glass jewel box [inspired by Johnson’s Glass House in Connecticut] in the middle of the park.
What’s different about this Shake Shack compared to other locations?
This location is reflective of some of the great architecture in Dallas, but there are some iconic Shake Shack elements. For every Shack interior we use these reclaimed bowling alley tables made by hand in New York. We use reclaimed wood from the floor of a Dallas gymnasium and locally sourced shiplap. I love that there’s this cool, contemporary exterior and a warm, inviting interior.
Are there any more Dallas Shake Shacks in the works?
We’re looking at new Dallas locations, but our next project is in Plano’s Legacy West development.
