Raising a family, doing business in California not easy, In-N-Out boss says
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There’s something about In-N-Out that strikes a fierce if not irrational sense of pride among many Angelenos and Southern Californians.
There are several fan clubs and awards, including Yelp’s No. 1 Fast Food chain honor earlier this year and Market Force’s 2022 “best burger experience.”
For some reason, there isn’t the same fervor for Southern California’s own McDonald’s, one of the top 10 brands in the world, or for Santa Barbara’s The Habit, which beat In-N-Out in July 2024 for USA Today’s best fast food burger accolade.
Times readers even lambasted former food columnist Lucas Kwan Peterson when he placed L.A.’s Fatburger atop his fast food burger rankings in 2022.
Maybe that’s what made the news that Lynsi Snyder, billionaire owner and chief executive of the iconic Baldwin Park brand, was leaving the Golden State last week all the more jarring.
Colleague Piper Heath broke down the announcement Monday, while columnist Lorraine Ali opined on what the decision meant.
What in the Flying Dutchman is going on?
Snyder made an appearance on the podcast “Relatable” on July 18, hosted by conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey.
During the interview, Snyder uttered a statement that created shockwaves locally.
“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” she said as part of her announcement that her business was continuing its eastward expansion.
The move to Tennessee represents a seismic shift for the leader of the brand. Currently operating more than 400 locations across eight states — California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Idaho — In-N-Out has long thrived on being the burger chain you couldn’t find everywhere.
How has the move been interpreted
Snyder’s comments set off a disinformation blitz, launching the Double-Double into the middle of a red-state/blue-state culture war where, clearly, nothing is sacred, Ali wrote.
Anti-Cali factions incorrectly crowed about yet another business fleeing the West Coast. More proof that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “failing” state sucks!
It appeared that In-N-Out was following Tesla and Charles Schwab, companies that cited regulatory challenges and operational costs among their reasons for relocating. Chevron also fled.
Many in SoCal felt abandoned and disrespected. They, after all, propped up the chain for 76 years, only to be told by its owner that the place that made her family’s business — their home — is no longer to her liking.
On X, Oracle Park Seagull posted “‘Not easy for In N Out to do business in California…’ Said the person who became a billionaire doing business almost exclusively in California. So much so, it was a point of pride for the chain. Gotcha.”
What’s really going on?
During the podcast, Snyder discussed elements of California policy that make the state hard to operate in, referencing pandemic-era restrictions as particularly challenging.
She told Stuckey “the bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California.” The relocation of both corporate operations and the CEO signals a fundamental change in the company’s center of gravity.
“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,” Snyder said, though she maintains limits on expansion.
Final thoughts
Newsom even chimed in, starting his X post with, “For those interested in the facts, rather than fiction, In-N-Out is expanding East — creating a second HQ in Tennessee.”
Snyder responded Monday in an Instagram post: “Where I raise my family has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our customers in California.”
The week’s biggest stories
Immigration and ICE raids
- Trump says he’s deporting the ‘worst of the worst.’ What is really happening?
- ICE raid at major pot operation clouds picture for legal cannabis in California.
- Afghans in California reeling amid Trump administration travel ban, end of deportation protections.
- Seeking the elusive path for immigrants to legally come to U.S.: ‘People are dying in line.’
Trump Administration policy, actions and pushback
- Essayli upended U.S. attorney’s office by pushing Trump agenda. Will he stay on top?
- Texas Democrats meet with Newsom to stop Trump’s push to ‘rig’ the 2026 election.
- The Trump administration is gutting EPA’s research arm. Can California bridge the gap?
Crime, courts and policing
- One of the grenades recovered ahead of blast that killed 3 L.A. deputies is missing, authorities say.
- SoCal man used dating apps to swindle matches out of more than $2 million, feds say.
- Feds raid Tujunga home of ‘TikTok Cult’ pastor in sex trafficking, fraud investigation.
- Orange County man gets 26-years-to-life sentence for murder of estranged girlfriend.
Health and medicine
- Serious liver disease is up among heavy drinkers, even without more drinking.
- California, other Democratic-led states roll back Medicaid access for people lacking legal status.
- You’re more likely to win Powerball 100 times than do what this California mom did.
More big stories
- L.A. County bought the Gas Company Tower for $200 million. Upgrades will cost much more.
- ‘Call the police.’ Jared Verse left inspired by his Aaron Donald workout trauma.
- The fight to keep space shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian: L.A. arts and culture this weekend.
- Missing woman feared dead in California desert found alive in Colorado.
- Months after the Jan. 7 fires, L.A.’s evacuation plans remain untested.
This week’s must reads
Ahead of Friday night’s premiere of Part 2 of HBO’s ‘And So It Goes,’ here’s a ranked list of the Piano Man’s biggest hits.
More great reads
- Coins? Cards? Apps? The hell that is paying for parking in L.A.
- With Chargers back in San Diego, players hope to win back their traditional fan base.
- Opinion: With Manifest Destiny art, DHS goes hard on ‘white makes right.’
- Opinion: The Americans With Disabilities Act changed my life. Now my generation needs to fight for it.
- Opinion: Malcolm-Jamal Warner carried a heavy load for Black America.
For your weekend
Going out
- Sunday Funday: Action star Jack Quaid’s perfect LA Sunday includes pancakes at Swingers Diner and a stop at Golden Apple comic book.
- Foodie finds: Fan-favorite poke returns in Silver Lake with a new space.
- Hype meets reality: The Tesla Diner is officially open ‘from now until forever.’ What we learned on Day 1.
- Movie Review: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is a grown-up glow-up for the superhero genre.
- Arts Review: LACMA’s great Buddhist art collection, pulled out of storage, is an irresistible force.
- Museum stop: Fierce pride is at the core of the Chumash Museum, a worthwhile day trip from L.A.
Staying in
- Streaming Review: ‘The Hunting Wives’ is a Texas-set murder mystery replete with guns.
- Book Review: Author Ed Park drops clues like ‘Barbie’ throughout ‘An Oral History of Atlantis.’
- 🧑🍳 Here’s a recipe for Moo’s Craft Barbecue founder Andrew and Michelle Muñoz’s barbecue beef ribs.
- ✏️ Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games.
L.A. Affairs
Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage.
The guy I was seeing would vanish for weeks and then shower me with gifts. Should I stay with him for the Tiffany & Co. and Cartier jewelry? Or cut my losses and move on?
Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team
Jim Rainey, staff writer
Diamy Wang, homepage intern
Izzy Nunes, audience intern
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew J. Campa, reporter
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
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