Shake Shack Secures Site in the Suburbs

Trendy burger joint coming to Dunwoody.

New York-based Shake Shack announced Tuesday that their next Atlanta area restaurant will open at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody.  I have since confirmed that the Shake Shack restaurant will occupy the current Soma space, on the front of the mall.  The roughly 3,400 square foot space will be completely renovated and outdoor patio seating will be added.

Soma, which sells ladies intimate apparel, currently occupies the Ashford Dunwoody Road facing space between Maggiano's and Urban Outfitters.  (Soma is connected to sibling concept Chico's, which is also closing.)  Soma will reopen on the main level of the mall in early May in a space originally home to Boston Proper.  (Boston Proper was previously under the Chico's FAS umbrella, but was sold this past January.)  

Shake Shack will occupy the currents soma on the front of Perimeter Mall  

Shake Shack, the trendy burger joint which started as a food cart in New York's Madison Square Park in 2000 and became a permanent restaurant in 2004, has since expanded to nearly 100 locations.  The company went public last year, but its stock has come back to earth since its IPO.  

Shake Shack will open in Dunwoody at a time when there have been more burger joint closures than openings in the area.   Fuddrucker's closed its Dunwoody area location on Perimeter Center Parkway in 2010.  Cheeseburger in Paradise closed its location in nearby Perimeter Place in 2012.  There is reported interest in Burger 21 possibly opening in Sterling Pointe across from the mall, but no other "better burger" joints have thus far committed to the area.  By all accounts, Village Burger, which opened in Dunwoody Village in 2010 in a converted Bruster's, remains popular and should be insulated from the chain's opening.  A little further away, Farm Burger opened in Georgetown Shopping Center, on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, in 2012 and is by far my favorite burger joint in the area.

At Perimeter Mall, Shake Shack joins Varasano's Pizzeria, which opened this past fall and The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, which is expected to open April 23rd.  

The existing Atlanta location opened in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta in late 2014 and measures 2,500 square feet over two floors.  

A well placed source indicated to me that plans call for the new Shake Shack to be open in time for this year's holiday shopping season. 

Are you excited about the opening of Shake Shack at Perimeter Mall?  What is your favorite burger joint in Dunwoody?  What other restaurant would you like to see opening in Dunwoody?

Please share your thoughts below.