The 40/40 List for 2023: America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals

This wave of battle-tested fast casuals is ready to emerge into a new era of restaurant growth. Here are our 40 picks to become the next big thing.

Harlem Shake

Headquarters: Harlem New York

Units: 2

Harlem Shake serves up burgers, shakes, “and good times” amid a backdrop of vintage diner decor and more than 200 autographed celebrity headshots, from Maya Angelou to P.Diddy and Asap Rocky. In addition to burgers made with custom blend Pat LaFrieda patties, Harlem Shake offers other made-to-order fare including all-beef hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, French Fries, grilled cheese melts, entree-size salads, and an extensive beer and wine selection including eight draught beers.

The retro burger joint was founded in 2012 by Jelena Pasic, who fell in love with Harlem’s warmth, charm, history and spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. Her own small-town Croatian roots instilled a strong sense of local community pride and passion for tradition in Pasic, so she ensured the dining experience would pay homage to Harlem’s history through careful design and an ongoing relationship with community members, which includes predominantly hiring folks living in the Harlem neighborhood. For example, Dardra Coaxum is a Harlem native who manages the brand’s social media and community relations for the restaurant’s second location in Brooklyn, which opened in October 2021 despite pandemic-related challenges.

With a goal to expand the retro, fast-casual concept into more beloved neighborhoods, Harlem Shake is working on refining its franchise program and developing a sales team, though it will continue opening corporate-owned locations to grow its footprint. The brand has registered to sell franchises in 31 states

Image Credits: Harlem Shake

See the full slideshow and list here: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/slideshow/4040-list-2023-americas-hottest-startup-fast-casuals/