For 75 years, In-N-Out customers have been reassured that the beloved fast food chain would only open locations along the West Coast. With all of the restaurants located either in California or neighboring states, it came as a shock to many fans when In-N-Out announced that it is expanding east.
Here’s what we know about the company’s plans, so far:
READ MORE: 3 Things You Never Knew About Ordering At In-N-Out, According To An Employee
A West Coast staple will be making its way to the Volunteer State.
In-N-Out announced Tuesday it will be opening it will be opening a corporate hub in Tennessee, with plans to open restaurants in the state in the future. https://t.co/G6VqyKm3gk
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 11, 2023
In-N-Out Eyes Tennessee As New Corporate Hub & Future Restaurant Location
As reported by Restaurant Business, In-N-Out will open its first “territory office” in the eastern United States in Tennessee in the upcoming months. The company also plans to open the first In-N-Out locations in the state starting in 2026.
This may seem shocking to many customers, given in 2018, In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder (granddaughter of founder Harry Snyder) stressed to Forbes that the chain would never expand east of Texas.
In-N-Out Burger plans to open a corporate office in Tennessee and restaurants in and around Nashville by 2026, marking the company’s first expansion east of Texas. https://t.co/eIsgewVGyH
— FORTUNE (@FortuneMagazine) January 11, 2023
“I like that we’re sought after when someone’s coming into town. I like that we’re unique,” she said at the time. “That we’re not on every corner. You put us in every state and it takes away some of its luster.” (Guess that outlook has changed!)
In-N-Out Burger Is Finally Expanding to More States https://t.co/P5qL5XjLOH pic.twitter.com/G5OWk2lTk4
— The Takeout (@thetakeout) January 11, 2023
Fan Reactions
After the news broke this week, In-N-Out fans from the West Coast expressed their “disappointment” on Twitter in learning that the chain will be expanding, while many East Coasters (and especially Tennessee residents) noted that they were “happy to try” the highly raved and celeb-fave chain.
In-N-Out is finally expanding eastward after years of denials. https://t.co/xXTQxfP1bP pic.twitter.com/K7ydMPkusi
— Bon Appétit (@bonappetit) January 11, 2023
“In n out expanding to the east coast is something so personal to me,” one user wrote as another chimed in, “Hearing that In n Out is expanding east is the best news i’ve heard in so long. and if they announce a location in ny, that will be the seratonin boost i need to get me through the whole year.”
Someone else tweeted, “Wait a damn minute..In N Out expanding to Tennessee?” to express their shock, and honestly, same.
