A soundbite from In-N-Out Burger’s owner and president Lynsi Snyder caught the world’s attention on Friday, July 18.
In an episode of the podcast “Relatable,” Snyder told host Allie Beth Stuckey her family will be moving to Tennessee, where In-N-Out is building an office in Franklin, a suburb of Nashville, and several restaurants in the state.
“There’s a lot of really great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” Snyder said.
The episode, which is on YouTube. is called, “After 77 Years, In-N-Out Is Moving to Tennessee. Here’s Why.”
Stuckey excerpted that portion of the interview as a scoop in an X tweet. On Sunday, she added a comment to the post.
“To clarify, the company will continue to have a corporate office in CA, while Snyder and a large number of corporate employees will be opening up shop in Franklin.”
The interview prompted headlines throughout the weekend, raising questions about the future of the Southern California brand.
Outlets that picked up the story ranged from Fox 11 and Fortune to the Christian Post and the Hindustan Times, which is based in New Delhi.
“Is this a sign In-N-Out is headed South? (Fingers crossed),” read a headline on AL.com, an Alabama news service.
In the interview, Snyder affirmed the company’s plans to pull out of its Irvine headquarters and relocate to Baldwin Park, which were announced last winter.
“My vision for a long time has been to have these two offices under one roof, and so that’s basically what’s going to happen,” she told Stuckey. “We’re building an office in Franklin. So I’m actually moving out there.”
“Relatable” is available on the Apple Store, which says Stuckey “breaks down the latest in news, theology and politics from a Christian, conservative perspective.”
Throughout most of the podcast’s 69 minutes, Stuckey interviewed Snyder about her Christian faith. At around 50 minutes, the conversation turns to Tennessee and In-N-Out’s future in Southern California.
In-N-Out was founded by Snyder’s grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, in Baldwin Park in 1948. Lynsi Snyder’s uncle, Rich Snyder, set up the Irvine headquarters shortly before his death in an airplane accident in 1993. After that her father, Guy, took over the company. Lynsi Snyder told Stuckey it had been his intention to move the operation back to Baldwin Park before he died in 1999.
In 2023, In-N-Out announced plans to expand to Tennessee. It broke ground on the Franklin office building in September.
In February, In-N-Out announced it will leave its highrise at 4199 Campus Drive by the end of 2029, making Baldwin park its western headquarters and Franklin its eastern office.
A bedroom community of Los Angeles, Baldwin Park is mostly built-out and has high density, according to the U.S. Census.
The original In-N-Out drive-thru that Harry and Esther Snyder built had to be demolished when the 10 Freeway went through in the mid-1950s. A replica has been built nearby on the north side of the freeway. A working drive-thru, a store selling company merchandise and a training center called In-N-Out University are on the south side. There is also a distribution center a half mile away.
Snyder said the transition is on a long runway to give staff members and their families time to plan for it and adjust.
“We gave them a lot of notice because we love them.”
In-N-Out currently has 423 restaurants in eight states. The newest opened in Modesto on July 9.
“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.”