Other
Danny Meyer
Restaurateur
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
The practice of hospitality here is built from education, room work, and operating discipline rather than chef mythology. Trinity College sits in Danny Meyer’s record as part of that foundation, alongside the early institutions and work experiences that preceded his restaurant career. “Make new mistakes every day. Don’t waste time repeating the old ones.” Danny has said.
Coming Up
Restaurant operators often arrive through adjacent work: logistics, public-facing coordination, and the daily handling of people under pressure. Danny Meyer’s path included Trinity College in 1980, after John Burroughs School and Camp Nebagamon for boys, then field work as Cook County Field Director for John Anderson's 1980 Independent Presidential Campaign in Chicago. By 1984, the trade had moved to New York City, where he worked as Assistant Manager at Pesca. The operating model became formal with the founding of Union Square Cafe in 1985, followed by the development of Union Square Hospitality Group, where Danny is Founder and Executive Chairman.
At Work Now
Hospitality at scale depends on governance as much as dining-room instinct. Danny Meyer is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group, and the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Shake Shack. His current board work extends across Olo Inc., OpenTable, Sotheby’s, The Container Store, and the Madison Square Park Conservancy, placing restaurant practice in contact with technology, retail, cultural, and civic systems.
Accolades
Industry recognition for this body of hospitality work includes James Beard Foundation Awards, Workplace Legacy Award (2018), and Julia Child Award (2017).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Danny
Who is Danny Meyer?
Danny Meyer is founder of Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake Shack.
Where did Danny Meyer train or study?
Danny Meyer trained at Trinity College and John Burroughs School.
What recognition has Danny Meyer received?
James Beard Foundation Awards.
