In-N-Out Burger is planning to expand to Tennessee for the first time, with new offices and locations to open in the Southern state over the next three years.
Owner and President Lynsi Snyder announced the development last week at a press conference alongside Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and across the popular burger chain’s social media channels.
“We thank In-N-Out for planting roots in Williamson County and creating new jobs for Tennesseans,” Lee said in a statement.
The Irvine-based company will open its first restaurant in the state in 2026, Snyder said.
Tennessee is the farthest east the company has ventured to date, and marks the first sign of larger U.S. expansion plans for In-N-Out which is currently in predominately Western states, including California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Texas.
The firm said it will invest $125.5 million to develop a 100,000-square-foot office in Franklin, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville, to serve as the company’s eastern territory office, and a hub for new Southern and Eastern markets.
Construction is expected to begin by late 2024 and is set to be completed in 2026 as well, according to local reports.
Farther East Than Ever
The corporate hub—the first focused on eastern markets for the local restaurant chain—will include human resources, information technology and other operations personnel. The project will create 277 new jobs in the county, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Snyder noted the expansion is the farthest east the company has opened new establishments. The first initial restaurants are planned to open in and around Nashville, Tenn.
“For many years, we’ve heard requests from our customers in Tennessee to consider opening locations near them, farther east than we’ve ever been,” Snyder said.
In-N-Out currently counts 386 stores.
It opened its latest OC restaurant last month in San Clemente along Avenida Pico. That location, which has been in the works for several years, is the first in the city.
Last week, it opened its newest location companywide in Ceres, Calif.
75 Years
In-N-Out is the third-largest restaurant chain based in Orange County with systemwide sales of $1.7 billion in 2021, according to Business Journal data.
With almost 3,000 OC employees, In-N-Out also ranks as one of the largest employers in the region with headquarters and operations based at the University Tower complex in Irvine. It also has operations in Baldwin Park, where the company got its start.
This year marks the company’s 75th anniversary.
To celebrate the milestone, the company will take to the Pomona Raceway, where Snyder’s father, Guy Snyder, spent time racing, for a festival in October.
The quarter-mile racetrack was renamed the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip last November as its new title sponsor. The chain entered a multiyear partnership with drag racing group, the National Hot Rod Association and will be the title sponsor for the upcoming season.
“In-N-Out has grown from a humble 10×10 stand in Baldwin Park, California, to one of the most recognizable brands in the industry,” the company said in a statement.
