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[norm9]

From SFGate- http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Why-In-N-Out-burger-won-t-expand-to-the-East-Coast-5066438.php

Fans of In-N-Out have been begging the chain for years to open restaurants on the East Coast.

The fast-food chain, which is based on the West Coast, has slowly expanded eastward over its 70-year lifetime to Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and more recently to Houston, Texas. The company has also been holding "pop-up shops" around the world, where burgers tend to sell out within minutes.

All signs seemingly point to a plan for expansion.

But four major factors make it highly unlikely that East Coasters will get to experience the joy of an In-N-Out in their neighborhood anytime soon.

1. Quality control: There are no freezers or microwaves in In-N-Out restaurants because the company has a strict policy of serving its food fresh. Therefore, all locations must be within 300 miles of the company's distribution facilities.

2. Exclusivity: Everything has more appeal when it's not available to everyone, and the exclusivity of In-N-Out has helped the restaurant gain such a rabid following of fans.

In response to pleading from a local politician for an In-N-Out to open in Denver, Van Fleet made it clear the company was not planning to expand farther east.

You continue to give us the biggest compliment possible with your efforts to interest us in Colorado," he wrote in a letter obtained by The Denver Post. "That said, at this time, we're still not looking to add a sixth state and we're just focusing our growth efforts in the five states where we currently operate."

Since then, In-N-Out has expanded to Oregon — which is the chain's sixth state of operation.

3. Competition: The East Coast has numerous burger joints that would offer tough competition for In-N-Out, including Shake Shack and Five Guys.

4. No franchising: In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder has said the company will "never" go public or franchise its restaurants.

"The only reason we would do that is for the money, and I wouldn’t do it,"Snyder told CBS.

There you have it, or rather, there you don't have it.

Grill my onions if old.

 

[Ashhong]

Suckers

 

[sixteen-bit]

Habit is better anyway

 

[BronsonLee]

Good we don't want shit burgers

 

[diehard]

They aren't missing all that much tbh

 

[Kevinroc]

I should have some In-N-Out later.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Oh no what will I do without yet another burger chain

 

[backflip10019]

We have Five Guys and Shake Shack.

 

[Tagyhag]

That article doesn't say that it would NEVER come to the East Coast. Just that it's unlikely.

And while it is unlikely, anything can happen with time.

 

[McDougles]

Visited LA mid-June, ordered up a burger and animal fries.

Burger was okay, animal fries sauce was necessary to moisten the dry-as-shit hickory stick twigs they call fries.

You can keep it, Worst Coast.

 

[Poor GRIMES]

Whataburger outsold

 

[Sweeney Tom]

We have Five Guys, so yall can keep it

 

[The Lamp]

Texas wins at food again and always. Especially fast food. It's amazing that we get In-N-Out, Shake Shack, Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A, Cane's, Chicken Express, Popeye's, KFC, AND Whataburger.

 

[ratcliffja]

Habit is better anyway

Absolutely. In N Out is decent but it's nothing amazing.

 

[Beartruck]

I'll stick with Five Guys if I want overpriced fast food burgers.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Good we don't want shit burgers

Makes sense, cheesesteaks are a fine replacement for shit burgers.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

"Never." According to the current owner, who I hear is immortal. Wait, she isn't? Well then I guess she doesn't know what the future holds, does she?

I don't understand the hype over any fast food, personally. I've been to In n Out; it was a perfectly serviceable hamburger. I wouldn't say it's the best fast food hamburger I've ever had, though, and I certainly wouldn't be biting my nails in anticipation of one opening near me. Oooooh, another place to get cheap meat... yippee-ki-yay.

 

[Very Berry Sunday]

Don't make the same mistake as me and get an extra large shake and fries with a Double Double.

A double double is enough.

 

[TheClimaxan]

I love In-N-Out.

But I also have 4 Cookouts in driving distance.

I'll survive.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

I've come around to like In-N-Out. Burgers are good. Fries are marginal. They're better now that I realized they don't salt them - you have to do it yourself. Since that revelation, they're ok. And for $7.50 for a double double, fries, and a drink - it's hard to beat.

And of course animal style, it's even better.

Five Guys still has the far superior fries, especially cajun, but even a single meal would set me back $10-$11. If you want a double, it approaches $12-$13.

 

[Undefined]

Subways still the goat.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Texas wins at food again and always. Especially fast food. It's amazing that we get In-N-Out, Shake Shack, Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A, Cane's, Chicken Express, Popeye's, KFC, AND Whataburger.

You win some you lose some I guess

 

[Goofalo]

I like that it's limited geographically. When I go to LA to see my family. All the lit of town cousins, we try and plan out flights in at the same time and all go get In N Out together before we meet with the LA based family. We also try and do the same before we fly out.

 

[PandaPandaPanda]

Since then, In-N-Out has expanded to Oregon — which is the chain's sixth state of operation.

Please come to WA

One thing I miss about Nevada is the In and Out Burger

/sadpanda

 

[TheOfficeMut]

Had it when I went to Vegas and people here said I ordered "wrong" because I got a plain cheeseburger and side of fries, both of which weren't tasty and quite frankly mediocre (the fries were the worst fast food fries I've ever had). I was told I had to order animal style fries and get some other shit on my burger, but if you have to add so many other things to these items in order to enjoy them, then that's not very good.

Although admittedly, if they opened up one here in NYC I'd eat there a lot because the food is pretty cheap.

 

[GhostWriter24]

Good. Make them come west to experience the perfection.

 

[thekonamicode]

Had In-N-Out once while in LA. I don't really get the appeal since it was a mediocre burger.

 

[joe2187]

As a man who has lived in Los Angles all his life and raised on burgers....

fuck In N Out. Mediocre ass burgers and the worst fries ever to grace this planet.

 

[Leynos]

I'll stick with Five Guys if I want overpriced fast food burgers.

Well, the thing about In-N-Out is that it is very reasonably priced. Sure, the hamburgers aren't the best around, but they are good, and cheap.

 

[norm9]

I'll stick with Five Guys if I want overpriced fast food burgers.

In N Out is cheaper than McD's, brah.

 

[Hubbl3]

They can keep In-N-Out. This is the only thing that I hope moves east:

 

[Brandon F]

Never understood the appeal either once I moved to LA. Inflated expectations likely, but I had zero craving for repeat visits for a burger fix.

 

[sethbot]

Texas wins at food again and always. Especially fast food. It's amazing that we get In-N-Out, Shake Shack, Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A, Cane's, Chicken Express, Popeye's, KFC, AND Whataburger.

This. It's so nice having options here.

 

[ResidentWeevil13]

I got five guys. I think I'll live

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Why can't they just open a distribution center on the East Coast? I doubt they are using any sort of ingredients that can't be found here.

Regardless, In-N-Out isn't THAT great, so I'm not particularly jealous. It's good, but it's still fast food.

 

[GhostWriter24]

As a man who has lived in Los Angles all his life and raised on burgers....

fuck In N Out. Mediocre ass burgers and the worst fries ever to grace this planet.

This man speaks utter nonsense.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

In N Out is cheaper than McD's, brah.

Yeah In-N-Out can be many things. Overpriced isn't one of them.

 

[Toa TAK]

Good we don't want shit burgers

No one can help you if you have bad taste, bro.

 

[Amory]

oh nooo

looks like i'll have to get a burger at one of the other 40 places

Tasty Burger and Shake Shack are just as good as In n Out anyway

 

[NewFresh]

We're good.

 

[Lkr]

Can we at least get fatburger on the least coast at some point?

 

[BronsonLee]

Makes sense, cheesesteaks are a fine replacement for shit burgers.

Cheesesteaks are wack. CHICKEN cheesesteaks tho

No one can help you if you have bad taste, bro.

They're overrated

 

[Salmonax]

We have Five Guys, so yall can keep it

 

[Ashodin]

Good we don't want shit burgers

Exactly, five guys is better.

 

[GhostWriter24]

They're overrated

Nope. Completely worthy of any and all praise heaped upon them. Most delicious burger in America.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Friendship with In N Out ended.

Now Tasty Burger is my best friend.

 

[radios shipping overview]

Shake Shack is better.

 

[digitalrelic]

Meh, as a Midwesterner, I'd take Culver's over In-N-Out any day:

 

[Ponn]

We have Five Guys, we good. Keep your cheap burgers.

 

[Emarv]

In-N-Out's have been popping up more and more over Texas. It's cool, but I'm still more surprised Whataburger hasn't moved to the coasts yet.