In-N-Out Burger Proposed Expansion: What We Know

In-N-Out Burger has announced plans to expand to several locations throughout the United States. This news has pleased fans of the popular fast-food chain, who are often disappointed that the brand is hard to find outside of California. Despite this news, the restaurant faces a number of struggles. Let’s take a look at what we know about this proposed expansion.

In-N-Out Burger Expanding to Oregon, Idaho

After announcing the opening of a new location in Washington state back in March, In-N-Out Burger revealed plans to open in Oregon and Idaho.

According to the Beaverton Valley Times, though, the Oregon location opening has been plagued with problems.

The beloved fast-food restaurant brand, well-known for its “animal style” burgers and long wait times, is vying for a location at the intersection of Southwest 107th Avenue and Southwest Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, close to Chick-fil-A. After the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals remanded a 2022 decision to reject In-N-Out’s application, significant work was made on that proposal.

The zoning of the property was cited as the cause for the application’s denial; however, the LUBA ruling required the county hearings officer to reevaluate and provide additional justification for his decision.

The decision of the hearing officer to approve In-N-Out Burger’s application had until May 7 to be appealed by interested parties. A Beaverton resident filed a Notice of Intent to Appeal on May 6.

A record of the materials that influenced the hearing officer’s decision to grant the application must be given to LUBA within 21 days. Following that, there is a two-week period during which certain parts of the record may be contested, either on the grounds of incompleteness or the inclusion of information that was not considered during the decision-making process. Additionally, the petitioner, or the party initiating the appeal, has 21 days from the date the LUBA gets the record to file their petition to review, in which they provide justification for their belief that the land use decision should be overturned.

Additionally, according to 95.7 KEZJ, an In-N-Out Burger location in Twin Falls, Idaho, has also faced zoning problems, with issues surrounding drive-thru locations, preferred retail hubs, and extended hours.

Not All California Love

Meanwhile, in California, In-N-Out Burger is facing its fair share of issues.

Last month, it was announced that the renowned burger business would charge Californians extra for a quick lunch in retaliation for raising the state’s minimum wage. KTVU reports that the fast-food chain significantly increased its rates on the same day that Sunshine State passed legislation establishing a new minimum wage for its workers.

“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,” the company said in a statement.

Legislation AB 1228 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in September and became operative on April 1. “California is home to more than 500,000 fast-food workers who — for decades — have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions,” he said at the time, according to Fox Business.

Following the passage of the legislation on April 1, In-N-Out increased the pay of its associates in California by $2 per hour.

The burger joint raised its rates to $10.45 for the double-double combo, $8.65 for the cheeseburger combo, and $8.15 for the hamburger combo, all before tax, according to Los Angeles Magazine. Locations outside of the Golden State are not believed to have seen a price increase.

On its website, In-N-Out Burger states that it started as a drive-thru hamburger business at Francisquito and Garvey in Baldwin Park in 1948, occupying a meager 100 square feet. In the same year, the chain unveiled the first talk box, enabling patrons to enjoy a genuine drive-in experience. Two years after the chain’s famous Animal Burger made its debut in 1961, the Double-Double was unveiled.