DARIEN — Shake Shack is inching toward its Darien debut.
After months of back-and-forth regarding signage, Shake Shack was officially approved in July and, according to David Genovese of Baywater Properties, could be on pace to open in December at 1340 Post Road, the site of the former Chuck’s Steak House.
“We are cranking on construction now and hope to have Shake Shack open in December,” Genovese said on Friday via email.
Shake Shack first applied for a permit in March, asking for three signs, the letters of one of which would be 24 inches tall and face Post Road. The Zoning Board of Appeals expressed concern at the proposal, which exceeded existing limitations on signage.
Shake Shack argued, through expert testimony from Richard B. Crawford of Mercer Sign Consultants of Pennsylvania, that smaller letters would result in a safety hazard for drivers on the busy stretch of Post Road that Shake Shack is to be situated. In June, Shake Shack and the ZBA agreed to two signs and a decrease of four inches in the letters of the road-facing sign.
A building permit was issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals on July 11, and construction started on July 12.
“We are a few months behind schedule due to zoning issues that we faced regarding signage, but we hope to make up for some of the lost time now,” Genovese said.
Shake Shack sprouted from a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in Manhattan to support the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first art installation. The cart was quite the success, with Shack fans lined up daily for three summers. In 2004, a permanent kiosk opened in the park: Shake Shack was born.
This “burger stand” serves burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes, beer, wine and more.