In-N-Out is Out: the Quintessential California Burger Will Leave Its Irvine HQ
Much of In-n-Out’s corporate office is headed east as the company plans to shutter its Irvine office. Will the fast food franchise retain its California cool? Image generated by Sora
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson recently announced on a podcast that the iconic California burger chain will be moving its headquarters to Franklin, Tennessee. After an uproar from fans throughout California, she then issued a statement confirming that the company's Baldwin Park office will remain open. But she did not walk back earlier comments regarding plans to abandon the company’s Irvine headquarters. For over three decades, the company’s Irvine office created hundreds of jobs, pumped millions into the economy, and became part of Orange County’s cultural fabric. Will a brand that embodies California cool continue to thrive without its OC cred?
Why Irvine?
In-n-Out was originally headquartered in Baldwin Park near the location of the first In-n-Out in 1948. The founders, Harry and Esther Snyder, managed the slowly growing company in their San Gabriel Valley community. When Harry and Esther’s sons, Guy and Rich, took over the restaurant in 1976, there were just eighteen locations. In 1993, Rich Snyder got the deal of a lifetime: University Tower. The ten story office building, which is adjacent to UC Irvine’s campus and close to several freeways, was a relative steal at a price of $15.2 million, Previously purchased by ICM Property Investors Inc. in 1986 for $18.7 million, the building was sold to In-n-Out for a $3.2-million loss. According to In-n-Out’s then chief financial officer, Steve Tanner, In-N-Out bought the building for less than half the cost to build it.
In-N-Out never needed an entire office building to house its workforce in Irvine. During its time in University Tower, the restaurant has also acted as a landlord, renting floors of office space to various tenants like Kumon and Premier Business Centers. This side hustle has created another revenue stream for the billion dollar burger empire.
Irvine’s excellent infrastructure and proximity to a well-educated workforce undoubtedly played a key role in In-N-Out’s growth. During In-N-Out’s time in Irvine, the company expanded from 60 employees overseeing 80 restaurants in 1994 to 500 employees managing over 400 locations today. So, why the switch?
Why Not Irvine?
In-n-Out President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson has made it clear that Irvine is not where she wants her company to be headquartered. Image generated by Sora
In February 2025, Snyder-Ellingson announced she would be making some changes. She released a statement that her company would shut down its Irvine offices and relocate staff to both Baldwin Park and Franklin, Tennessee.
“I know my family would be in support of this move because it brings our In-N-Out family back together in a way that helps us better serve our customers, who are the most important priority,” Snyder-Ellingson said at the time. Her goal was to have everyone out of Irvine by 2029.
This week, a podcast with Snyder-Ellingson revealed again that she wants to leave Irvine. This time, she announced that Irvine’s office workers will be out by 2030, but they will have to make the move east to continue with the company. (An In-N-Out Communications executive referred back to the February statement, which says Irvine will close in 2029, when asked about the future plans for the Irvine office building).
“There’s a lot of great things about California,” Snyder-Ellingson said during the podcast, “but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here.”
This might be news to many Irvine residents, who choose to move to the city specifically for its family-friendly and business-friendly climate. Thousands of businesses thrive in Irvine, including fast food companies like The Habit and Taco Bell. So, why the switch? Some commenters on Reddit allege that it’s due to cost. Others say it’s a cultural shift, pointing to the company’s strong commitment to religious references in its branding.
Irvine Vs. Franklin
How will In-n-Out’s corporate staff adjust to life in Tennessee? Franklin and Irvine have very little in common. Image generated by Sora
Comparing Irvine and Franklin is difficult as they have little in common with each other. Both areas boast relatively good schools, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings, but the similarities stop there.
With a population of less than half of Irvine’s (88,558 compared to 314,621), Franklin has a small-town, country feel. Franklinians have access to the Nashville scene, which is just over 20 miles away, but when they choose to stay in town, residents might enjoy spotting country music stars strolling around the upscale downtown area.
Franklin housing costs are drastically lower than Irvine’s. The median sale price for a single family home in $790,000 in Franklin and $1,600,000 in Irvine, according to Redfin.
What else is there to do? Instead of beaches and amusement parks, Franklin offers history. From Civil War battle sites to plantations to museums, the area has a connection to the past that relatively young Irvine cannot provide. Franklin’s approach to that checkered past includes a 37-foot tall Confederate monument known as “Chip” by locals. The plinth of the monument contains an inscription that honors the soldiers of the Confederacy who fought in the Battle of Franklin in 1864. Irvine, on the other hand, has something of a battle of boba shops that rages on without an end in sight. The political landscape of Irvine could not be more different to Franklin’s.
When it comes to weather, it depends on what one enjoys. Missing the seasons? Then Franklin is the best! Hate heat and humidity? Irvine is far superior.
