LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT) — Rumors that In-N-Out Burger could abandon California and move its operations out of the Golden State have been gaining traction since billionaire CEO Lynsi Snyder and her family relocated to Tennessee last year.
The comments come as speculation about the chain’s future in California has intensified since Snyder and her family relocated to Tennessee in 2025. The move prompted questions about whether the company might eventually follow its billionaire owner east.
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But Snyder is now putting those rumors to rest with a blunt response, calling the idea of leaving California “the dumbest business decision ever.” She emphasized that the company continues to plan new restaurants throughout the Golden State.
“We continue to grow in California. We have lots of stores slotted for future cities in California,” Snyder told CBS Los Angeles in an interview published Friday, November 6.
“This is where we started,” she added. “It is where we are now, and it’s where we will always be.”
Snyder previously cited the challenges of raising a family and doing business in California as reasons for her personal move.
“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here,” she said previously. “Doing business is not easy here now.”
But Snyder has drawn a clear distinction between her family’s relocation and the company’s plans. In-N-Out intends to maintain its California presence while pursuing measured expansion into other parts of the country.
The chain is exploring potential growth in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Snyder, who is worth $7.7 billion, has described the company’s approach as slow and steady, emphasizing the importance of maintaining food quality and the traditions established by her grandparents.
New Mexico is among the next states expected to welcome the brand. Snyder recently indicated that Albuquerque is slated to receive an In-N-Out location by 2027.
Meanwhile, the company continues to pursue new California restaurants. Public filings recently revealed plans for a proposed drive-thru location in Sherman Oaks, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, near the 405 Freeway.
Snyder is the granddaughter of Harry and Esther Snyder, who founded In-N-Out in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948. The original restaurant helped pioneer California’s drive-thru hamburger business, and the chain has built its reputation around a simple menu and fresh, never-frozen ingredients.
Now celebrating 78 years in business, In-N-Out remains closely tied to its California beginnings, even as it expands into new markets. Snyder’s latest comments make clear that leaving the Golden State is not part of the company’s plan.
California remains the home of In-N-Out’s founding story and a major part of its identity. Baldwin Park, where the first restaurant opened, is in the San Gabriel Valley east of downtown Los Angeles.
Google Maps: Baldwin Park, California — birthplace of In-N-Out Burger
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