Shoe Shine Man Sues After Being Displaced by Shake Shack

Shake Shack is set to debut a new location in the Fulton St. Mall later this spring, but not everyone is excited about the opening: today the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reports on the sad story of Roman, a shoe shine man who operated a stall in the shopping center for the last fourteen years. He voluntarily agreed to move his store to 16 Court Street last November to make way for the Shack, and now he claims that his old landlord is stiffing him on the $25,000 he was promised when he agreed to relocate.

So far, he's only received $4,700 from his former landlord, Allied Property Group, who agreed to pay him his first six months rent at the new location, plus some extra money to cover moving expenses. What's more, Roman is having a tough time at the new store because it's not open to the street, and the people that work in the building don't know him.

Roman's shop was one of five businesses that had to leave to make way for the Shack. He notes:

Everybody moves. The pizza guy too, for Shake Shack...These people never thinks about the small businessman. All the owners have the families, have kids. They close like five businesses just to open one business.

Roman hired a lawyer, and soon they'll take their case to court. Hopefully he'll get the money he deserves, and business will pick up.
· Shoe-Shine Man Sues Over Shake-Shack Ouster [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
· All Coverage of Shake Shack Brooklyn [~ENY~]

Shake Shack Brooklyn

409 Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY