5 Things to Know About Seattle’s Shake Shack Mania | Eater Seattle

"After the New York sensation opened its first Seattle burger restaurant at 2115 Westlake Ave. in Denny Triangle, I saw predictably long lines and the arrival of Shake Shack staples — Shackburgers, crinkle-cut fries, and the Montlake Double Cut (the chain’s first all-local burger, from a Macrina Bakery brioche bun to Washington‑raised meat and Beecher’s cheese). The launch felt messy: the location relies almost entirely on cashless kiosks, and customers reported two of three kiosks out of order, buzzers not working, and order tickets truncating names to the first four letters (so Megan becomes “Mega”). CEO Randy Garutti framed the awkward, small standalone building as a deliberate “quirky specialness” meant to create a community gathering place, which reads like marketing spin but could help tap into local pride. The company is clearly pushing mobile ordering and scheduled pick-ups to reduce in-person friction, and Garutti said expansion (including eventually to the Eastside) will be cautious and slow, as past openings have taken years of searching and planning." - Adam H. Callaghan