Burger lovers may be shook to learn that a major obstacle has emerged to the imminent arrival of a drive-thru Shake Shack in White Flint. Back in June, the Washington Business Journal reported that the popular New York hamburger chain was going to convert the shuttered Arby's at 11710 Rockville Pike into a Shake Shack. But as of yesterday, there is a banner across the vacant storefront advertising the building as being available for lease.
The interior of the former Arby's retains its furniture, counters and even the menu holder behind the front counter. Since Shake Shack never publicly confirmed the Journal report, it's unclear why the plans have been derailed - or if the deal was ever set in stone to begin with. Two other Shake Shack locations remain on track in Montgomery County, at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg.
15 comments:
We need a Shake Shake in downtown Bethesda!
That's bizarre and I was looking forward to the drive-thru. Oh well, that seems dead now.
Can you check on the estimated opening for the mall location?
Wouldn't it be a bombshell if it ended up being In N Out? Wishful thinking and many argue SS is better but In N Out here would be amazing. At the same token, the Pike screams for a drive-thru coffee place whether Starbucks or better. Why in the world isn't there at least one anywhere on the Pike?
It would be an absolutely perfect location for something like a Zaxby's or a Cook Out. Cook Out would do gangbusters around here. Also Freddy's Steakburger.
2:32 - All due respect to you, Zaxby's is horrible and about the most unhealthy place you can go to because every menu item is deep fried. I realize though we are talking about fast food.
Having family in NC, I can attest to Cook Out and agree 100%. I just wish their burgers weren't done to the temp that they are which is usually toward med-well to well. Freddy's I am not familiar with. Good suggestions though save Zaxby's.
6:36: I hear a lot of good things about Cook Out and Zaxby's, but people from areas that have them have said Raising Cane's is better than Zaxby's.
2:32: Yes, it would be great to have a new fast food brand since Montgomery County has about the least variety of fast food chains I've seen anywhere in the country. I will have to look up Freddy's Steakburger.
"It's really depressing that you have to drive at least four miles from Bethesda to eat at McDonald's."
...said absolutely no one, ever.
8:35: You're right, no one ever said that because there is a McDonald's on River Road. The issue I was discussing is the lack of variety in fast food chains in the county; we have only a few brands. Now if the question is fast food restaurants within Bethesda, there is only one (the aforementioned McDonald's + McDonald's food court at the mall), and that is just bizarre. What is the de facto ban in place that prevents more fast food restaurants from opening on River Road?
Bethesda is the only town of its size in the country that has no movie theater, and only one fast food restaurant. It's embarrassing.
I'm guessing the "de facto ban" is the high rents demanded in Bethesda.
To Robert and the person who mentioned Freddy's, wow, that place looks incredible. They actually have a location in Fairfax. The burgers are the smash style like Shake Shack but look even better. What's more are their fresh custard offerings which also seem a cut above (and interesting given that Shake Shack modeled their custard after the famous St. Louis Ted Drews) Shake Shack. I will be making the trek over to Fairfax soon to check this place out.
I agree with the commenter who mentioned Freddy's. I can tell just by looking that that is a brand that would crush it on the Pike.
It is odd that Gaithersburg is getting all the drive thru Starbucks but none in Rockville or Bethesda.
Would be perfect for a pad site at the new westbard shopping center if the out of town developers had designed it differently.
Robert Dyer @ 8:55 AM -
Why doesn't the Popeye's in the food court at Montgomery Mall count?
8:24: There's a Chick-fil-A in the food court, too, but they're not exactly convenient to most of Bethesda, have limited hours, and no drive-thru. There's a Wendy's inside Walter Reed, but the public can't access it.
Popeyes is also next door to the Rockville Pike site we're talking about. No, I think these comments are spot on about selection being poor. Like I mentioned, that Freddy's place looks awesome. Does anyone remember Foster's Grille? They were in Bethesda next to where Mon Ami Gabi is and the movie theater for less than two years or maybe less. They are still in Vienna and NOVA. They never resonated here and were too early on the burger craze I guess. They'd do well in this location. Especially with the fallout from COVID-19 and convenience, drive thru is key. Rockville is crazy. I talked to the Chick-fil-A franchise owner of the Montrose Crossing location and she said their drive-thru request was denied. Stupid. It would have fit easily there. Remember, they were up and running before TD Bank was even built.
@Anon 5:01 ChickenfilA does have a drive thru, so what was denied?
Post a Comment