Shamrock Shake BACK in NYC, Confirmed in Union Square

Ben Ragheb

Every St. Patrick's Day we obsessively lament the bewildering absence of McDonald's limited-edition Shamrock Shake in the NYC area. "New York region no longer stocks the Shamrock Shake," Jennifer Nagy of McDonald's regional marketing told us in 2007. "Our branches can vote region by region," and around NYC, they had not been voting green. Until now: Like a pot of glittering (edible) gold at the end of a high-calorie rainbow, the elusive Shamrock Shake has been sighted at the Union Square McDonald's (39 Union Square West). But don't stampede there just yet, the manager at the location just told us:

They're "cleaning the machine" right now, so we won't have the Shamrock Shake until a little later this morning. One girl called a half hour ago and ran over here, and she was upset because we didn't have it. So just give us an hour or so. We'll have it today, and for the next week or two, until the liquid runs out.

Uh, about that "liquid"?—the manager tells us it's the magical "mint flavor" that gives the Shamrock Shake that quintessential tingle. We're sure it's perfectly natural. So, a Happy St. Patrick's Day, indeed. If you spot the Shamrock Shake at any other locations, let us know, and we'll pass on the vital game-changing intel.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Food on March 17, 2010 9:01 AM

Comments [rss]

Mignon

I tried Union Square around 7:30PM, and agreed—they're definitely out, and for good. Apparently someone ordered about 100 large Shamrock Shakes earlier in the day.

phojoe

Union Sq. was out at about 4:00pm.... the staff was surprisingly unhelpful in providing any information about the shamrock's return.

thewildpansy

Surprisingly? They work at fuckin Mcdonalds, they don't know about reasons why or why not this is being sold, what the fuck.

aspiringrapper

Agreed. They are useless. Went there recently to ask which Star Wars Happy Meal toys they have (yeah, I know). Here is the exchange:

Me: "Hi, can you tell me which of the Star Wars Happy Meal toys you have right now?"

McD: "You want a Happy Meal? What kind?"

Me: "No, can you tell me which of the toys you have?" (At which point I pull out a printout of the toys with pictures of them under a McDonald's logo).

McD: "Oh, Star Trek. We have Luke Skywalker & the airplane."

Me: (Thinking 'no, you have Anakin...there is no Luke toy & by airplane, I guess you mean x-wing fighter?) "Ah ok thank you."

Maybe as someone over 30, I'm too old for Happy Meal toys, but as a collector & fan of Star Wars, I make exceptions. It always baffles me how oblivious they are as to what's going on in their own store, almost as much as it baffles me when they ask if you want a boy toy or a girl toy. Kind of sexist, no? And when it comes to Star Wars, aside from maybe 2 characters, what could be a girl toy?

Rocknrope

You are hovering precariously close to nerdranting.

thewildpansy

You know what you piece of shit? YOU are wrong in this case. A guy calling a toy that looks like an airplane an airplane is fine. He is not the toy engineer or corporate. Fuck outta here you creep.

Rocknrope

I always wanted one of these when I was a kid. Then I grew up, realized I hate mint flavored anything, and I was just buying into the brainwashing marketing campaign

chrissederstrom

http://williamsburgernyc.com/default.aspx does a nice mint milkshake.

alexandra

they're also at 46th and broadway. should be in the east village tomorrow. (my entire office wanted one and we made a lot of calls this morning.)