Iconic Brand Lands At Tanger Outlets, Serves Up Americana Comfort Food Including Signature Burgers & Custard Shakes

Jeff Walker, Business & Food Review

Situated in Madison Square Park and bordered by Fifth Avenue and Broadway in NYC, Shake Shack's humble beginnings launched from a single hot dog cart in 2001, opening their first brick and mortar location just three years later. 25 years down the food & beverage highway, the hugely successful 'fine casual' eatery known for grilling up 100% angus beef (antibiotic-free) burgers and hand-spun signature custard shakes has grown to over 500 locations.

While New York, California, and New Jersey were among the early additions, less than a decade after their physical site emerged, Shake Shake threw open the doors in Atlanta in 2014, with additional locations following in Florida and North Carolina. Not to be outdone, in 2026 Charleston SC, more precisely Tanger Outlets in North Charleston has welcomed the very first Shake Shack to the palmetto state.

For those familiar with Tanger Outlets in the north area, Shake Shack currently occupies Suite 791, the former home to Lucky Brand Jeans. As the crow flies or the drone hovers overhead, Shake Shack sits at the tail end of Fashion Ave. facing Centre Pointe Drive directly. Set your GPS to 4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd.

But enough about their history. Let's talk what most important, and that is their food. Although their image has become a part of Americana, their name might lead people to think they focus mainly on shakes. While their hand-spun shakes are wonderfully creamy and come in standard flavors as well as peanut butter, cookies & cream, and coffee, Shake Shack's menu reflects more family friendly foods, such as those served up at backyard picnics and neighborhood socials.

And unlike many fast casual eateries Shake Shack doesn't fill their menu with 100's of items, rather they concentrate on what they do best, grilling up awesome burgers, hotdogs, and crinkle cut fries, as well as a crispy breasted chicken sandwich. All designed to accompany Coca-Cola products, fresh lemonade, and their Fifty/Fifty (half tea & half lemonade), officially known in the south as an Arnold Palmer.

Aside from a simple hamburger or cheeseburger adorned with your favorite toppings, Shake Shack in North Charleston carry a half dozen signature burgers all meant to please the palate, with every angus beef creation crafted after the ever popular smash-burger. Unless you're unaware a typical smash burger is an ultra-thin patty cooked rapidly on a blazing-hot flat-top griddle smashed upon the first few seconds of cooking, with the finished burger providing slightly crispy edges and overall juicy bites. 

Their namesake double ShackBurger is a twin patty smash sensation topped with American cheese under a bed of lettuce and tomato, further enhanced with a slather of their signature (trade secret) sauce. Want to add a bit of heat to your burger than order up the SmokeShack layered under crispy applewood smoked bacon and cherry (red chili) peppers. Better have a cold beverage ready and waiting!

If you want a taste of California no doubt the Avocado Bacon Burger will satisfy the senses. Shake Shack does serve up a couple of vegetarian options, however if you want the best of both burger worlds the Shack Stack is an oversized combination of a classic cheeseburger and a vegetarian 'Shroom Burger stacked on a slightly toasted potato bun. Very interesting!

True hotdog lovers know real frankfurters only come in 'all-beef' variety. Processed chicken, turkey, or pork in a hotdog doesn't cut the mustard (pun intended). Shake Shack serve up only the best, placing pure Vienna Beef hot dogs, Chicago's iconic, premium all-beef frankfurters in their buns.

The brand known for their savory, beef-forward flavor, mild smokiness, and signature 'snap' have been an American institution for more than a century. Eat it plain or laced with their cheese sauce or toppings. Frankly, no matter how you chow down on it, their Flat-Top Dogs will provide you a 'hot diggity dog' sensation and they are always a 'wiener'. All puns made to order! 

What's left to talk about. Oh yeah, they serve up thick crinkle cut fries, fluffy on the inside with crispy ridges on the outside meant for maximum crunch and to hold toppings. Get them blanketed under cheese and or with bacon. The only remaining side is their beer-battered onion rings complete with four different dipping sauces. Ooh la-la!

To wash it all down Shake Shack carry your favorite Coca-Cola products to accompany their signature custard based chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry shakes, with seasonal shakes to boot. Burgers, hotdogs, fries, and your preferred beverages. Basically a simple menu comprised of backyard and ballpark favorites meant to satisfy hungry appetites. Other than a few items almost all the menu is priced under $10. 

Honestly, Shake Shack is a godsend to Tanger, because aside from the occasional food truck and less than desirable kiosks in the covered walkways, there has been no real food & beverage restaurants attached to the actual outlets. It's going to be nice to shop and have a decent place to eat without leaving the shopping center. Open 10am until 11pm daily. Long live the 'shack'! 

If you're one of the few in the lowcountry who doesn't know where Tanger Outlets is located, than set your GPS to 4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd and let the all beef aroma carry you to their distinct location. Basically five minutes off either I-26 or I-526. Again, Shake Shack took over the space where Lucky Brand Jeans once was, so it's safe to say the composition of that DNA location was destined to evolve into burger genes (all 100% beef pun intended). Learn more at https://shakeshack.com/location/charleston-outlets#/