In-N-Out Burger, the iconic California fast-food chain founded in Baldwin Park in 1948, is transitioning its operational headquarters away from its birthplace. The company confirmed it will close its Irvine corporate office by 2030 and consolidate remaining California operations in Baldwin Park. However, long-term plans point eastward, with corporate leadership and expansion efforts relocating to Franklin, Tennessee.
In a podcast released July 18, President Lynsi Snyder announced that she and her family will move to Tennessee, where the company is building a 100,000-square-foot Eastern regional hub set to open in 2026. The move reflects both a strategic expansion and personal motivations.
“There’s a lot of great things about California,” Snyder said on the Tim Ross The Basement podcast, “but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here.” She pointed to pandemic-related regulations and concerns over public safety as factors influencing the decision.
Company Expansion Heads East
The company’s planned Tennessee campus will house corporate offices and logistics operations to support growth in the Southeastern U.S. In-N-Out’s first locations in Tennessee are expected to open in 2026. The move to Franklin will give the company a second base of operations while allowing it to more effectively serve eastern markets.
Despite these changes, Snyder emphasized that In-N-Out’s California footprint remains foundational. Over 70 percent of the chain’s more than 400 restaurants are in California, and Baldwin Park’s significance in company history is not lost on leadership.
The company’s Baldwin Park facility—adjacent to the original In-N-Out drive-thru site—has long served as a production and distribution hub. It will continue to operate in the near term, supporting regional logistics and burger production. Yet with executive leadership and long-range planning shifting east, Baldwin Park’s role is diminishing.
Impact on Local Workforce and Community
The full implications for local employees in Baldwin Park and Irvine remain unclear. In-N-Out has not announced large-scale layoffs or closures, but a corporate spokesperson confirmed that jobs tied to the Irvine office will be gradually relocated to either Baldwin Park or Franklin by the 2030 target.
For Baldwin Park, the shift comes with mixed sentiment. The city has long embraced In-N-Out as a symbol of local pride, and residents are watching closely as the chain shifts its cultural and business center out of California. As operations migrate, there is concern about whether jobs and investment will follow.
El Monte, South El Monte, and other neighboring cities have often looked to In-N-Out as a regional employer and community presence. In-N-Out has contributed to local charities, school programs, and job creation for decades. It remains to be seen whether those efforts will continue at the same scale as corporate leadership transitions east.
California Still a Stronghold for Sales
Snyder assured the public that the majority of In-N-Out’s operations will remain in California. The state continues to be the chain’s top market, both in store count and revenue. No current plans exist to expand into the eastern seaboard beyond Tennessee, and the company has emphasized that it is not leaving California altogether.
Still, the symbolism of the move is clear. For a business that helped define California’s post-war food culture and suburban identity, shifting its headquarters away from its Baldwin Park roots marks the end of an era.
Snyder, granddaughter of founders Harry and Esther Snyder, has led the company since 2010. Her decision to relocate reflects broader demographic and economic shifts, with businesses and families alike reassessing the benefits and burdens of operating in California.
What Comes Next for Baldwin Park
While In-N-Out Baldwin Park will continue serving logistical needs for now, its long-term role remains uncertain. As Tennessee’s facility nears completion, more business functions will shift east. Local officials and residents may look to preserve the company’s historical presence through civic projects, markers, or legacy exhibits.
For now, Baldwin Park remains the symbolic heart of a California institution, even as its operational pulse begins to beat from Franklin. The double-double may still be California’s most famous burger—but the business behind it is charting a new path forward.
