Danny Meyer

Danny Meyer is a New York City restaurateur and business executive known for founding Union Square Hospitality Group and co-creating Shake Shack, establishing a reputation for ‘enlightened hospitality’ in the food industry. After gaining foundational restaurant experience as an assistant manager at Pesca in New York City’s Flatiron District in 1984 and studying as a stagiaire in Italy and Bordeaux, France, Danny Meyer founded Union Square Cafe in 1985. This landmark establishment served as the cornerstone for the Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG), which expanded to include numerous critically acclaimed restaurants such as Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke, The Modern, and its catering division, Union Square Events. Under Meyer’s leadership, Union Square Cafe was recognized as the #1 most popular in New York City by Zagat nine times, while his restaurants collectively earned 28 James Beard Awards, solidifying his reputation for ‘enlightened hospitality’ in the food industry.

He also held leadership positions with the Union Square Partnership and was an executive committee member for NYC & Co and the Madison Square Park Conservancy. In 2015, Meyer initiated a transformative policy to eliminate tipping at all his restaurants, a decision that led to adjustments in pricing and staffing models and significantly impacted industry discourse. His pioneering work earned him the prestigious Julia Child Award in 2017 and the Workplace Legacy Award in 2018.