Henrietta Shake Shack draws a crowd hours before opening: See the scene

It was still breakfast time on Tuesday, and people were lining up for lunch in Henrietta.

New York City-based Shake Shack — which has a cult-like following — was preparing to open its first location in New York state north of Westchester County and outside the Thruway.

Customers already were there counting down, and when Henrietta Supervisor Stephen Schultz showed up with the oversized ribbon-cutting scissors, they knew they wouldn't have to wait much longer.

William McDowell and his sister Grace McDowell, both of Hilton, were first in the drive-thru lane, ahead of around a dozen other cars.

The Henrietta restaurant also is the only one in the state with a drive-thru.

“We’re both massive Shake Shack fans,” said William, which is why the two arrived about an hour and a half before the 11 a.m. opening. “Every time we visit a city with one, we make a point to go to it.”

Nick Paliani of LeRoy, Genesee County, was the first person standing in line outside the restaurant, which has a 245 Clay Road address but faces Jefferson Road.

He said he’d never eaten at Shake Shack but knew its reputation, so he got there at 8 a.m. By 10, he had been joined by at least 75 others, including Red Wings mascot Mittsy.

“I’ve been opening up a Shack almost every two weeks the past couple months across the northeast,” said Joe Kaufman, a regional marketing manager for Shake Shack. “We see excitement everywhere, we see some lines and whatnot, but this is the biggest (turnout) I’ve seen in the past couple months.”

The Henrietta location has about 90 people on its payroll, and 20 to 25 working per shift.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week.

The drive-thru features a digital menu board, a two-lane ordering system and a separate pick-up window. Digital pre-ordering for pickup or delivery via the Shack app and at order.shakeshack.com will be available in the coming weeks.

Customers can dine-in, too, and there's patio seating.

This morning, the first wave of guests got Shake Shack-branded cups, keychains and stickers, as well as complimentary cold drinks while they waited patiently in the humidity.

But they expressed more interest in the food.

“I like the Double ShackBurger with the Black & White milkshake,” Grace McDowell said.

William McDowell planned to order the same shake with either the chicken sandwich or the mushroom burger.

And Barbara McMillon of Rochester, who was 10^th in line with her grandson Zo McMillon, 5, of Syracuse, had her sights set on a hamburger, cheese fries and a shake.

“I like Burger King, but this beats Burger King, and the cheese fries are awesome,” she said.

Shake Shack began in 2001 as a hot dog cart near New York City’s Madison Square Park. Three years later it evolved into a burger kiosk and has grown to more than 400 locations worldwide.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.