After 77 years, In-N-Out is moving to Tennessee — here's why
During the pandemic, In-N-Out was among the very few companies that immediately stood up against the tyrannical measures to force the vaccine on unwilling citizens.
In a statement sent to ABC7 News in San Francisco at the time, the burger chain indicated that it would “refuse to become the vaccination police for any government.”
“We fiercely disagree with any government dictate that forces a private company to discriminate against customers who choose to patronize their business. This is clear governmental overreach and is intrusive, improper, and offensive,” the company’s statement said.
“There were so many pressures and just hoops we were having to jump through. You know, ‘You’ve got to do this, they have to wear a mask, you have to put this plastic thing up between us and our customers,’” Lynsi Snyder, president of In-N-Out Burger, tells BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey on “Relatable.”
“But that was definitely where we held the line. ... We’re not policing our customers,” she continues.
After its refusal to bow down to the vaccine mandates, In-N-Out was “shut down for a brief moment,” but Snyder believes “it was worth it.”
Now, In-N-Out is building an office in Franklin, Tennessee, a place that did not see the same authoritarian response.
Snyder is moving herself and her family to Tennessee along with it.
“Number one priority is really keeping the company the same company that my grandparents started as,” she tells Stuckey. “I want the legacy to continue.”
“We don’t want to be in every state, and we don’t want to ever compromise our values and standards and the cornerstones that my grandparents laid down,” she continues, adding, “so it’s really just keeping those priorities at the forefront when we make decisions.”
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Exclusive: In-N-Out president says for the first time her family is moving out of California to a red state
The president of the iconic California hamburger company In-N-Out has announced for the first time that California's policies have driven her family to move to a red state.
Lynsi Snyder made the comments to Allie Beth Stuckey on the Blaze Media podcast "Relatable," which was published Friday. The company had previously announced that they were expanding into Tennessee, but Snyder went on to explain that her entire family had decided to move from California.
'Raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here.'
"We're building an office in Franklin, so I'm actually moving out there," Snyder said.
"How do you feel about that?" Stuckey asked. "You're a California girl through and through, right?"
"Yeah. I really loved living in Northern California, and I am so thankful that I grew up there because I think it changed a lot of who I am today," Snyder replied. "I think I would be different if I had been raised in Southern California."
She went on to say that there were a lot of great things about California but that the state's policies had driven her out.
"Raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here," she explained. "Now, the bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, but it will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there, and being able to have the family and other people's families out there."
RELATED: In-N-Out Burger donates $25,000 to California GOP, and leftists are not happy, call for boycott
In-n-Out President Lynsi Snyder reveals for the first time that she and her family are LEAVING California for Tennessee. “Raising a family is not easy here,” she told me. “Doing business is not easy here.”
After 77 years, In-n-Out HQ will say goodbye to its home state and set… pic.twitter.com/yorQTiRXzx
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) July 18, 2025
Snyder said the company would give her employees a "longer runway" to make it easier to plan the move out by 2030.
Stuckey asked if she was still tied to the line of demarcation she had set against growing into the East Coast, and Snyder suggested that line was softening.
"Florida has begged us, and we're still saying no. The East Coast states, we're still saying no," Snyder said.
Snyder, who is the granddaughter of the founders of In-N-Out, also talked about her path of developing her Christian faith. She said that keeping the high standards for the company was a part of her showing her faith in God and respect for her parents and grandparents.
RELATED: In-N-Out Burger reportedly takes new bold stance about employees wearing face masks
"Lynsi shares the untold story of In-n-Out’s early years and the hardship she went through before becoming the successful business leader she is," Stuckey said about the interview.
"She has an incredible testimony and is so passionate about serving God and glorifying Him in everything she and the company does," Stuckey said. "Her journey to Jesus is raw and redemptive. You will be so encouraged."
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The ultimate burger showdown: Whataburger vs. In-N-Out
If you have ever lived in Texas (or if you have ever met a Texan), you have heard of Whataburger.
With 740 locations in Texas alone, the iconic orange and white combo permeates the culture in a way that rivals no other fast food chain I’ve ever seen. Whataburger embodies “go big or go home.”
However, as the Californians have migrated to the Lone Star State, they brought In-N-Out with them. The Californian chain has cropped up in 43 locations, and it’s caused quite the divide. Their Christian values feel right at home in South, but challenging the state burger has ruffled some feathers.
The score must be settled. One burger must reign supreme. So we conducted an experiment.
Grace, a New Hampshire native, recently moved to Texas. Since her palate had not yet been exposed to either Whataburger or In-N-Out, she was the perfect test subject.
We devised a super-detailed, ultra-specific, rigidly-scientific process to test the merits of the warring burger joints.
1. Acquire the burgers
The two burgers had to be as similar as possible. A classic Number One with cheese from Whataburger with fries (and its patented spicy ketchup on the side, of course). A Combo Number Two cheeseburger with fries from In-N-Out. Sticking to the basics was essential if the chains were to be judged by merit alone. The Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit will have to wait.
2. Remove all branding
The orange and white packaging was discarded along with the Bible-verse-adorned bag. The burgers and fries were placed on plates, and then we were ready to bring in our subject.
3. Taste the burgers
Since we neglected to bring a blindfold for our blind tasting, Grace used the honor system and kept her eyes closed during the tasting. Unbeknownst to her, we served her the Whataburger burger and fries first. In-N-Out was next.
4. Tabulate the results
After we guided Grace’s hands to the Whataburger fries, the reception to the Texas classic was positive. However, she noted that “they need[ed] more salt.” According to Grace, most things need more salt. The burger was received with a bit less enthusiasm.
The In-N-Out fries were deemed soggier than the Whataburger fries. They also required more salt. In a fortunate turn of events for the Californians, the burger was immediately proclaimed superior to Whataburger’s.
Apparently, the ideal meal is fries from Whataburger and a cheeseburger from In-N-Out. But, as there can be only one winner, Grace announced that In-N-Out took the cake.
For all the Whataburger loyalists out there (like me), don’t despair. In-N-Out doesn’t have a Sweet and Spicy Bacon Burger or a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. There are just some things that the simplicity of the In-N-Out cheeseburger can’t beat.
But it’s safe to say that the Californian chain’s values are worth supporting. The Bible verses hidden on the packaging reflect IN-N-OUT owner and president Lynsi Snyder’s personal faith in Jesus. So maybe it’s worth switching it up once in a while to support a company that values faith in Christ.
If it counts for anything, Whataburger is still better (in my humble Texan opinion). But I digress.
In-N-Out Burger confirms customers can thank Democrats for higher menu prices: 'The economy is kind of bad'
In-N-Out Burger, the most recognizable California fast-food chain, has raised its menu prices because of a new minimum-wage law in California.
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a law increasing the state-mandated minimum wage at fast-food restaurants from $16 per hour to $20 per hour. The law took effect on April 1.
'When I came to In-N-Out and I was spending $20 on a meal, it's definitely something that I did not expect at all.'
Democrats who supported the law said it was necessary to provide workers with a living wage. But there are consequences of forcing restaurants to raise their minimum wages by 25% because employers rarely absorb the cost of increased wages. Typically, they pass the cost onto the consumer or their employees (in the form of layoffs). And almost immediately after Newsom signed the law, some employers announced layoffs. Other fast-food chains raised their prices or said they would increase automation.
Earlier this year, In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder said that she didn't want to raise menu prices out of an "obligation" to her customers.
But that's exactly what the burger chain was forced to do.
"On April 1st, we raised our prices incrementally to accompany a pay raise for all of the Associates working in our California restaurants. The price increase was also necessary to maintain our quality standards," In-N-Out confirmed to KTVU-TV.
Now, the starting minimum wage for In-N-Out employees is between $22 to $23 per hour, depending on the restaurant location.
The price of a double-double meal — which includes a burger, fries, and a drink — now costs as much as $13.63 in San Francisco, KRON-TV reported. The same meal costs about $11.44 in Los Angeles County, according to KTLA-TV.
The Democrat-instituted mimimim-wage hike is directly responsible for the price increase, an In-N-Out spokesperson confirmed to KTLA.
Customers, meanwhile, said they understand the prices because they recognize the economy is "bad."
"The price increase? I understand because the economy is kind of bad. Food's going up, all type of stuff," frequent In-N-Out patron Chris Hachlica told KTVU.
"Especially coming from Georgia, California prices are a little bit higher. But when I came to In-N-Out and I was spending $20 on a meal, it's definitely something that I did not expect at all," Khalil Coleman told KTVU.
News of In-N-Out's sticker shock comes after an analysis from the Hoover Institute discovered that California's new minimum wage law has cost the state more than 10,000 jobs.
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In-N-Out shocks Oakland residents by closing city's only location despite turning a profit — and high crime is to blame
In-N-Out Burger is planning to shutter its only Oakland, California, location.
The burger joint's lone restaurant in the Bay Area-city has been operating for nearly two decades, and, importantly, it is profitable. But the company announced over the weekend that high crime in the Democrat-controlled city has made it impossible to operate safely.
"Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies," In-N-Out chief operating officer Denny Warnick said in a statement. "[T]his location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and wellbeing of our Customers and Associates — we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment."
Patrons who frequent the restaurant said they are sad about the closure. Unfortunately, they understand why In-N-Out made the decision.
"I'm definitely frustrated," Oakland resident Jenny Goeppner told KPIX-TV. "Because if it's not In-N-Out, it's something else tomorrow."
Resident Darryl Brown added, "These are people's jobs, and it's essential to have jobs so we can spend money in the community."
Oakland, like most other Democrat-controlled cities, is experiencing significant problems with crime. Specifically, crimes like motor vehicle thefts, burglaries, and robberies have skyrocketed in the city.
The In-N-Out in Oakland, which sits just two miles away from Oakland International Airport, has been hit particularly hard by the crime wave.
In fact, security guards who work in the area recently told the San Francisco Standard that they take more calls from the In-N-Out than any other patrol location in the city, with multiple vehicle break-ins happening daily.
"On a regular day, I'd say five," one security guard told the news outlet. "On a bad day, I can't even get a report in because it's back-to-back."
In-N-Out said that impacted employees can transfer to other In-N-Out locations in the Bay Area or they may choose to receive a severance package. The restaurant will officially close on March 24.
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In-N-Out Burger reportedly takes new bold stance about employees wearing face masks: 'Smiles and other facial features'
In-N-Out Burger, the popular California-based burger chain, is reportedly barring employees in certain states from wearing face masks without explicit medical direction.
Company leadership issued new employee policies last week barring workers in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah from wearing face masks at work unless they have a doctor's note.
The policy is meant to prioritize In-N-Out Burger's "exceptional customer service."
"We are introducing new mask guidelines that emphasize the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals," the company told employees in a message. "We believe this policy will also help to promote clear and effective communication both with our Customers and among our Associates."
Employees in California and Oregon, meanwhile, can still wear masks but are limited to company-provided N-95 masks in the absence of a doctor's note, the company told employees.
Any employee who violates the policy will be subject to disciplinary measures up to termination. The policy change takes effect on Aug. 14.
In-N-Out Burger is known for taking bold stances.
The company, which prints Bible verses on its products, made headlines in 2021 for refusing to enforce San Francisco's COVID-19 vaccine policy that required businesses to verify the vaccine status of customers.
The company said at the time:
We refuse to become the vaccination police for any government. It is unreasonable, invasive, and unsafe to force our restaurant Associates to segregate Customers into those who may be served and those who may not, whether based on the documentation they carry, or any other reason.
We fiercely disagree with any government dictate that forces a private company to discriminate against customers who choose to patronize their business. This is clear governmental overreach and is intrusive, improper, and offensive.
TheBlaze reached out to In-N-Out Burger for comment, but the company did not return a message.
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In-N-Out Burger in LA apparently remaining defiant as restaurants aren't checking customers' proof of vaccination — a violation of citywide mandate
In-N-Out Burger restaurants in Los Angeles apparently are remaining defiant and not checking proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for customers who dine inside the iconic burger joints — a violation of the city's mandate, which KCBS-TV reported is the strictest in America.
What are the details?
A reporter from the station, Tom Wait, visited five In-N-Outs across the city Tuesday night and found it was "business as usual," with restaurant workers not once asking for vaccination proof from Wait, KCBS said.
At least one customer told the station he agrees with In-N-Out: "You have the right to eat here or not. It's their business, not ours ..."
KCBS said In-N-Out didn't immediately respond to its request for comment.
What's the background?
The controversy surrounding In-N-Out and vaccine mandates began in October when the chain ripped San Francisco's proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirements after the city's Department of Public Health closed one In-N-Out for serving customers without proper papers.
"After closing our restaurant, local regulators informed us that our restaurant Associates must actively intervene by demanding proof of vaccination and photo identification from every Customer, then act as enforcement personnel by barring entry for any Customers without the proper documentation," In-N-Out Burger's chief legal and business officer, Arnie Wensinger, said in a statement.
He added that "we refuse to become the vaccination police for any government" and called the requirements "unreasonable, invasive, and unsafe."
Later in the month, officials in nearby Contra Costa County shut down an In-N-Out in Pleasant Hill for the same reason after the location had garnered four citations over several weeks and had to pay fines totaling $1,750.
After the Pleasant Hill location shutdown, In-N-Out's Wensinger issued a similar, defiant statement: "It is unreasonable, invasive and unsafe to force our restaurant associates to segregate customers into those who may be served and those who may not, whether based on the documentation they carry or any other reason. This is clear governmental overreach and is intrusive, improper, and offensive."
Another In-N-Out Burger in northern California gets shut down for failing to check customers for proof of COVID vaccinations
Northern California officials have shut down a second In-N-Out Burger location for failing to check customers for proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or negative coronavirus test results, the Los Angeles Times reported.
What are the details?
The first In-N-Out shutdown occurred earlier this month at a restaurant in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf for the same reason. The Times said that location has since reopened for outdoor dining only.
But on Tuesday, Contra Costa Health Services said the the In-N-Out at 570 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill was shut down after repeatedly violating county rules, the Times reported.
More from the paper:
Officials in Contra Costa County, located east of San Francisco and Oakland, said they gave the In-N-Out in Pleasant Hill ample opportunities to comply, but it created a public health hazard by "repeatedly violating" the county order. That order, in effect since Sept. 22, requires restaurants and some other indoor establishments to verify that all customers 12 or older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have had a negative coronavirus test within the previous 72 hours.
Officials said the Pleasant Hill In-N-Out garnered four citations over several weeks and had to pay fines totaling $1,750 for violating the order, the Times said, adding that the restaurant can appeal the permit suspension but must stay closed "until the hazard is abated."
The paper said two other area In-N-Outs — in Pinole and San Ramon — have received notices of violating the vaccination order, the paper said.
San Francisco Bay Area public health officials have enacted some of the strictest COVID-19 rules in California, the Times added.
What did In-N-Out have to say?
"It is unreasonable, invasive and unsafe to force our restaurant associates to segregate customers into those who may be served and those who may not, whether based on the documentation they carry or any other reason," Arnie Wensinger, In-N-Out's chief legal and business officer, said in response to the Pleasant Hill shutdown, according to the paper. "This is clear governmental overreach and is intrusive, improper, and offensive."
IN-AND-OUT Dispute: Pleasant Hill In-N-Out Burger Shut Down for Repeatedly Defying COVID Health Ordeyoutu.be
In-N-Out Burger tells San Francisco 'we refuse to become the vaccination police' after city closes restaurant
In-N-Out Burger blasted the city of San Francisco's proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirements after the San Francisco Department of Health closed one of the popular California burger joint's locations for serving customers who were not carrying the proper papers.
"On Thursday, October 14, the San Francisco Department of Public Health closed our restaurant at 333 Jefferson Street because In-N-Out Burger Associates (employees) were not preventing the entry of Customers who were not carrying proper vaccination documentation," In-N-Out Burger's chief legal and business officer, Arnie Wensinger, said in a statement.
"Our store properly and clearly posted signage to communicate local vaccination requirements," Wensinger said. "After closing our restaurant, local regulators informed us that our restaurant Associates must actively intervene by demanding proof of vaccination and photo identification from every Customer, then act as enforcement personnel by barring entry for any Customers without the proper documentation."
"We refuse to become the vaccination police for any government," Wensinger declared, slamming the San Francisco Department of Health's requirements as "unreasonable, invasive, and unsafe" and accusing the city of asking restaurants to "segregate Customers" based on vaccine documentation.
Wensinger's statement was first reported by The HighWire.
In August, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that the city would require businesses in "high-contact indoor sectors," including bars, restaurants, clubs, and gyms to obtain proof of COVID-19 vaccination from patrons and employees before servicing them. The health order was implemented to "protect against the continued spread of COVID-19, particularly among the unvaccinated," according to a statement from the mayor's office.
"Many San Francisco businesses are already leading the way by requiring proof of vaccination for their customers because they care about the health of their employees, their customers, and this City. This order builds on their leadership and will help us weather the challenges ahead and keep our businesses open. Vaccines are our way out of the pandemic, and our way back to a life where we can be together safely," Breed said at the time.
San Francisco was among the first major U.S. cities to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter indoor restaurants and other businesses. The city also implemented a vaccine mandate for workers at these places of business, which went into effect on Oct. 13.
In his statement, Wensinger accused San Francisco of forcing businesses "to discriminate against customers who choose to patronize their business."
"This is clear governmental overreach and is intrusive, improper, and offensive."
The San Francisco Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
www.theblaze.com