by Claire Marcellini (’26) | March 10, 2023

The most iconic West Coast fast-food restaurant, recognized by any Californian and envied by any east-coaster, is In-N-Out Burger. This classic restaurant not only uses the highest-quality ingredients, but also brings in extremely high revenues, averaging about $575 million per year. However, on January 10, 2023, the governor of Tennessee announced that the beloved chain would finally be making its way east, or at least as far east as they have ever been. In 2026, In-N-Out plans to open its first corporate hub in Tennessee with intentions to debut further restaurants later that year. 

Since the doors of the very first In-N-Out opened in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California, everyone fell head over heels in love with the animal-style fries and burgers. In-N-Out now has 385 locations in the western U.S., including Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Texas, and Colorado. Tennessee will be the farthest east an In-N-Out has ever seen. In order for In-N-Out to create their latest chain in Tennessee, they need to form an infrastructure with a new corporate headquarters for ease of hiring and distribution of the famous fresh food. Chief Operating Officer Denny Warwick informed The Tennessean that the new 100,000 square foot office in the Berry Farms area of Franklin will be home to various departments such as human resources, management, and operations. 

With its brave expansion to Tennessee, In-N-Out not only transfers their fabled cuisine to the Midwest but also creates job opportunities for residents. In 2018, Glassdoor ranked the chain restaurant as one of the top five best places to work, even beating tech giants such as Google and Microsoft. From the very advent of the company, the founders, Harry and Esther Snyder, prioritized paying employees well as a part of company culture. In fact, the burger joint offers benefits such as retirement plans, paid leave, and health insurance. The over 110,000 unemployed citizens in Tennessee can definitely benefit from the infiltration of the West Coast restaurant, especially considering that per store front, In-N-Out employs around fifty workers. It’s no wonder that the governor, Bill Lee, proudly announced the grand reveal.

The decision to open the Franklin office came as a surprise to many In-N-Out fans, considering that back in 2018, C.E.O. Lynsi Snyder, granddaughter of founder Harry Snyder, publicized to Forbes that the In-N-Out would not expand east of the Lone Star state, as long as she was alive. She explained, “I like that we’re sought after when someone’s coming into town. I like that we’re unique.” It now seems, though, that Snyder’s views have changed. While her decision may come as a shock to those who see the restaurant as a special West-Coast spot, what makes In-N-Out remarkable is the small, customizable menu, fresh products, and recyclable, minimalist packaging.