News

Shake Shack unveils vision for former bank in Old Town

By James Cullum
621 King Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

Shake Shack is cooking up plans to open in a former bank in Old Town.

The burger chain filed permit requests to open at the former Burke and Herbert Bank at 621 King Street last December. Shake Shack now seeks approval for new signage and has included a new rendering of the building exterior (see below) in their application heading to the Board of Architectural Review.

The BAR will review Shake Shack’s application for a certificate of appropriateness at its meeting on Wednesday, July 2.

Here’s a description of the proposed work:

  • 14″ “SHAKE SHACK”, painted aluminum channel letters, white acrylic faces, internally illuminated with white LEDs mounted to pan panel
  • 1′-6″ x 3′-0″ double faced blade sign with routed out graphics with white acrylic and vinyl pushed thru openings, internally illuminated with white LEDs
  • 18″ burger logo, painted acrylic logo with clear push-thru faces and vinyl overlays, internally illuminated with white LEDs, plate mounted suspended with 1″ square tube supports
  • Door vinyls

The building was the longtime home to Burke and Herbert Bank. It was built in 1906, and the ground floor where Shake Shack will operate has more than 6,100 square feet of space.

The restaurant is planning to open this year and will be the first Shake Shack in Alexandria. The nearest locations are National Harbor and Pentagon City.

Images via City of Alexandria and Google Maps

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.