Shake Shack To Open In Las Vegas

New York-based Shake Shack announced this week that they will be adding another restaurant to their empire, opening on the Las Vegas Strip in 2014. Even though they have already opened in five other states and seven international locations, this will be their first outpost west of the Mississippi. And as burger aficionados would know, this is also quite a big deal because for the first time in history both Shake Shack and In-N-Out Burger will both be located in one state.

The famous burger, hot dog, and frozen custard shop plans to open their Vegas location in a park that is currently under development by MGM Resorts International and located near the Monte Carlo and New York-New York hotels.  The park will be "the first of its kind" on the Vegas Strip with "quiet" areas, dining pavilions, and performance spaces, according to a statement.

Shake Shack Founder Danny Meyer hopes that the new Vegas setting will bring people together just as the Madison Square Park location has done. "This is a made-to-order fit for Shake Shack to serve in the first-ever park on the Las Vegas Strip," Meyer said in a release.  "Like our original Shake Shack, we hope to do our part in helping this park become a new gathering place for people from all walks of life and from around the world to come together—and even to re-imagine the entire Las Vegas experience." 

In order to uphold their motto and "stand for something good" in Vegas territory, the new location will be constructed with recycled and sustainable materials. Inside, tabletops will be made of recovered bowling alley lanes while the chairs and booths will be made of lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Their kitchen will also use energy-efficient equipment, and all electric usage will be offset.

Additional details will be announced over the next couple of months.

Skyler Bouchard is a junior writer for the Daily Meal. Follow her on twitter at @skylerbouchard.