Meet the Mayor of Shake Shack

Foursquare, the mobile social networking game that lets users “check into” restaurants, bars, gyms and more, has become a bit of a media darling in the past year, and we at Zagat aren’t immune to its charms – you can find our tips on many Foursquare listings, after all. But who are the folks doing all that checking in? We thought we’d find out. Meet Sahu Habibi, a 35-year-old freelance marketing specialist in Murray Hill who is currently the Mayor of the original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.

Zagat Buzz: Did you aspire to be Mayor or did it just happen?

Sahu Habibi: I traded Mayorships several times. At the beginning of the year, I got it back but then it was stolen from me by Brian P. He was developing an iPhone app called Shakedown that uses the Foursquare API to announce how long the line is when you check in. Brian P. and I traded the Mayorship a couple of times, along with some friendly trash-talking tweets. On February 25, a rather cold and rainy day, I got the Mayorship back and to the detriment of my arteries, I have kept it since.

ZB: Has being Mayor changed your experience at all?

SH: Not really. I am waiting for a Shake Shack Mayor special.

ZB: Do you have a standard order? What is it?

SH: I do have a standard order and my friends make fun of me for it, as they say I am anti-condiments, but I will go on record as saying lettuce and ketchup are condiments and mighty fine ones at that! I generally get a burger with lettuce and ketchup, fries and a chocolate shake.

ZB: Does your Mayorship extend to any other properties? Are there any other places you’d like to be Mayor?

SH: I am currently the Mayor of Michele's Apt and the SVA Theater. At one point I was also the Mayor of the burger joint at Le Parker Meridien, and I had grand visions that I could be the Mayor of all the great burger spots in NYC. That seemed way too daunting of a task, and I didn't think there would be a special burger badge to show the doctors after the meat-induced brain aneurysm I would have had.

ZB: If you could do anything with your Mayoral power, what would you change at the original Shake Shack?

SH: The only power I wish I could have is to skip the line. The only thing I would change is that the hot chocolate be served all year rather than just winter. I cannot tell why as I have been sworn to secrecy.

ZB: Is there anything else the world should know about the Mayor of Shake Shack?

SH: Mmmmm...Whole Foods' chocolate chip cookies.