Greenpoint’s burger scene is getting a new contender. Harlem Shake, the Manhattan-born burger chain, has inked a lease for a storefront at 698 Manhattan Avenue and is eyeing a late-summer 2026 opening. The 1,580-square-foot corner space comes with wraparound sidewalk seating and high ceilings that franchisee Cody Spearman plans to lean into in the design. Spearman, a finance professional and Bedford‑Stuyvesant resident, signed his franchise agreement earlier this year and will run the new outpost.
Lease details and timeline
The deal was arranged by Akram Mozeb and Jordan Raphan of KSRNY, who landed the Manhattan Avenue address for the chain. Spearman became Harlem Shake’s third franchisee when he signed in January 2026, and more franchised locations are already on deck in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the tri‑state area later this year. Harlem Shake Greenpoint is slated for a late-summer 2026 debut as the team works through buildout and city approvals, according to Brooklyn Eagle.
Brand pitch and CEO quote
"Greenpoint has a distinct personality that is creative, local, and proudly Brooklyn," Harlem Shake founder and CEO Jelena Pasic said in a statement to QSR Magazine. The chain started on West 124th Street in Harlem and built its identity around smash burgers made with a Pat LaFrieda beef blend and hand‑spun shakes, according to the brand’s website Harlem Shake.
Where it will sit
The new shop will sit on Manhattan Avenue a short walk from McCarren Park, in a stretch served by multiple transit lines, which brokers and the company say should help keep both weekday and weekend traffic steady. The Greenpoint retail corridor has seen regular turnover and a steady stream of fresh storefronts in recent years, and the arrival of a recognizable Manhattan brand could nudge lunch and evening patterns for surrounding restaurants and bars. Local brokers note that the wraparound sidewalk seating is likely to be a visibility booster and a warm-weather draw, as reported by Brooklyn Eagle.
What to watch
Spearman is stepping in as the chain’s third franchisee as Harlem Shake pushes outward from its Harlem base, with trade coverage pointing to several franchised debuts across the region this year. Expect the usual bread crumbs in the coming months, including buildout permits and fresh signage, as the team steers toward a late-summer opening, per QSR Magazine.
If the timeline holds, Manhattan Avenue will get another burger-and-shake option by late summer 2026. We will be keeping an eye on permits, progress and neighborhood reaction as opening day gets closer.
