The Unsettling Reason For In-N-Out's First Ever Store Closure
In-N-Out has, despite remaining solidly a West Coast institution, made a name for itself as one of the most iconic fast food restaurants in the United States. The California-based burger joint has kept its food fresh and its business principles clear, and that has, overwhelmingly been good for business. The restaurant has never, over its 75-year history, had to close a location, until now.
In-N-Out today announced on January 22, 2024, that it will be closing its Oakland, California location. And it isn't due to low sales. The reason behind the closure is more unsettling. It seems that the location has struggled with crime in recent months. The San Francisco Standard even named the Oakland In-N-Out location a "thieves' paradise," reporting that, despite several guards attending the restaurant, car break-ins occurred in the restaurant's parking lot daily.
Of the closure, In-N-Out released a statement that acknowledged the grim reality of their Oakland location's vulnerability to crime. "[O]ur Oakland store will be the first location we have closed," In-N-Out's chief operating officer, Denny Warnick, told Inc. "We feel the frequency and severity of the crimes being encountered by our Customers and Associates leave us no alternative."
In another statement shared on Instagram by ABC7 San Francisco reporter Dion Lim, the company confirmed workers at the location have the option to either be transferred or receive a severance package. The location will officially close on March 22, 2024.
A part of a larger problem
This shocking closure, coming from a restaurant with such an impressive track record reflects a growing problem within the San Francisco Bay Area. Many other retailers have chosen to close retail locations in the area in recent years, with many citing issues with theft and crime. Target announced the closure of three San Francisco Bay Area locations, including one in Oakland, in September 2023.
Other big-name brands such as Starbucks and Whole Foods also announced retail closures in San Francisco in 2023. Although Starbucks did not reveal the reason behind its decision to close retail locations in the Bay Area, the closure of Whole Foods was due in part to safety concerns. The location was the site of many crimes and overdoses and over 500 emergency calls were made at the location over 13 months.
Of the In-N-Out closure, Lim said that "..as someone who covers a lot of crime, it isn't always common for a large company to be so transparent in why they're closing." She also noted that "[i]t seems to say a lot about how bad things have become." It appears the impending closure of the Oakland In-N-Out location is only a symptom of a larger pattern of increased crime in the area, reflecting bigger, systemic issues within the city itself.