Two national chains arrive in Lansing within a few days — and a few steps — of each other

Before moving to Lansing from New York two years ago, Jeet Singh made a living franchising businesses like Subway and Dunkin’ Donuts.

When he began brainstorming potential franchising opportunities in his new home city, he set his sights on something that wasn’t already here. That led him to contact the owners of Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a New Jersey-based chain known for its diverse, customizable menu.

The eatery opened Monday (Feb. 16) near the Frandor Shopping Center, one of several new food spots cropping up in that area of town. Singh and manager Shannon Marcera said Bubbakoo’s variety sets it apart from other fast-casual Mexican-style chains.

“I wanted to bring something new, because we got Chipotle, we got Qdoba, we got other franchises here,” Singh said. “This is something that really excited me when I saw it in New Jersey.”

“It’s not standard,” Marcera said of the menu. “When you come in and look at our line, it’s bright, it’s colorful, and there are a lot of options.”

More unique items include birria, General Tso’s chicken and cooked-to-order hibachi-style steak and shrimp, as well as condiments such as boom boom sauce, a sweet and spicy mayo, and Southern barbecue sauce.

Customers can build their own burritos, bowls, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, taco salads and Chiwawas, which are Bubbakoo’s signature panko-crusted cheesy rice balls. There’s also a selection of “signature creations” with pre-selected ingredients.

Marcera, who is diabetic, is fond of the bowls. Even with diabetes, she said she’s been able to eat something different every day while training.

“The beautiful thing is that there’s something here for everyone,” she said.

Shake Shack joins the Frandor fold

Over the last 21 years, Shake Shack has expanded from a hot dog stand to a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar corporation. But it hasn’t made its way to Lansing — until now.

The area’s first Shake Shack location opens today (Feb. 18) in part of the former Rite Aid near the Frandor Shopping Center, becoming the first of several planned businesses to do so.

The chain is known for its burgers and shakes, with offerings ranging from standard fare like its signature cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and tangy “Shack Sauce” to limited-edition items like a Korean barbecue burger.

General manager Tyler Hart said he’s excited to be running the first Shake Shack in his hometown.

“I was born and raised in Lansing, so I’m happy to be bringing Shake Shack home for us here,” he said.

Asked what he recommends a Shake Shack newbie try, Hart immediately suggested the shakes. Made from fresh custard, they’re an improvement over similar offerings at other fast-casual burger joints, he said. Alongside classic vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and coffee shakes that are available year-round, current offerings include tiramisu, “chocolate blackout pudding” and spicy caramel, which is part of the same limited-edition Korean-inspired menu as the barbecue burger.

The location’s proximity to MSU is ideal, Hart said, and not just because of the student traffic. Aiming to ground itself in local communities, Shake Shack often partners with area organizations for fundraisers, and MSU is a perfect partner. One dollar from every sandwich sold on opening day will go to the MSU food bank, and the store is already in talks to arrange departmental fundraisers in the future.

Hart said a core value at Shake Shack is to provide restaurant-level service, meaning customers who dine in will have employees check in on them to offer refills and the like.

“We’re going to give you that service that you won’t find at a Culver’s or McDonald’s or Five Guys,” Hart said.

The Lansing location is the chain’s 10th in Michigan, with more to come. No follow-up locations in the Lansing area are currently in the works, but Hart said the state is a “key focus” for the company as it continues to expand.