On a late summer day in 1992, Danny Meyer and I sat down in Union Square Park to talk about a new kind of restaurant—one that married the warmest form of great service with soulful, indelible food. The result was Gramercy Tavern, a restaurant that ushered in a new era of American dining. But that day in the park we didn’t talk about menus or decor. We talked about how to make people on both sides of the table feel valued and cared for. How putting employees first would translate to a memorable experience for our guests.
As Danny’s business has grown, from a single restaurant to a nearly $2 billion Shake Shack burger empire with outlets around the world, its core has never changed. It’s what has made him a leader in our industry. I’m proud to have been his partner and still proud to be his friend.
Colicchio is a celebrated chef, television host and antihunger activist
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