Apr 24 2009
Bad News For NYC In-N-Out Worshippers
So I came across an interview on Fast Company with Stacy Perman, who literally wrote the book on In-N-Out Burger, the family-owned chain that has become a cultural institution. Unfortuantely, as is the case with some other cultural institutions outside of New York (think Waffle House, Chick-fil-A, etc.), they have yet to bring one to NYC. According to a July 2007 post on A Hamburger Today, Departures Magazine started a rumor that In-N-Out was planning a New York debut. Since then we’ve been waiting and waiting, but no In-N-Out. According to Stacy Perman, it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting one anytime soon, either. But did you know the reason is because of where In-N-Out gets its beef? Can that really be it? We’ve got friggin’ Pat La Frieda for goodness sakes. I’m sure he would make them an “exclusive” black label mix. If you’re headin’ to the West Coast anytime soon, I can’t think of any book that would be better to read on your flight there. Here’s the disturbing news from Ms. Perman, herself:
FAST COMPANY: So what’s next for In-N-Out? Are there plans to move out East?
SP: It’s slowly expanding, with emphasis on the word “slowly.” When [family heir and soon-to-be owner] Lynsi Martinez takes control of the company, she could change things. But there’s a reason In-N-Out only exists in four states. Each restaurant gets its beef from specific commissaries, which are within a 500-mile radius. So jumping from Utah to New York seems unrealistic.
Oh yeah, and she has some ominous news for Shake Shack if the expansion rumors turn out to be true:
You don’t think In-N-Out should go public?
No, I really don’t. When you go public, you open yourself up to a whole new set of pressures you have to follow, and I think that might change the unique culture of In-N-Out. Look at Krispy Kreme. It had a huge fanbase, and people were clamoring for more locations across the country. So Krispy Kreme obliged. It had an IPO in 2000, and it was very successful. But then the chain started rapidly expanding, and soon you could buy Krispy Kreme doughnuts in supermarkets. It just wasn’t the same product. There are so few “real deals” left, and In-N-Out is one of them.
