Expansion of In-N-Out Burger in Lake Elsinore
In-N-Out Burger is expanding its California empire with a new location in Lake Elsinore. This will be the famous chain’s second location in the Lake Elsinore area.
During a meeting on October 17, the Lake Elsinore Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve permits for the new location. The new In-N-Out will be part of a larger development project along Dexter Avenue between Crane and Allan Streets. This 3,887-square-foot burger joint will include a two-lane drive-thru with thirty-one available queuing spaces. The additional parking is good news for fans of the notoriously busy restaurant. Construction will include a 45-foot-tall In-N-Out sign visible from Interstate 15. Lake Elsinore’s other In-N-Out location is just east of the I15 freeway at 331 Railroad Canyon Road.
New Development and Commercial Opportunities
The Dexter Avenue development will also include a 10,241-square-foot multi-tenant commercial building separate from the In-N-Out building. The 2.29-acre site will feature 126 parking spaces, and with In-N-Out attracting plenty of visitors, other retailers will certainly benefit from added traffic. Robert Lewis, of the Pacific Development Group II, is the project applicant, and his application was approved and filed at a Lake Elsinore Planning Commission meeting on November 17.
Few restaurants have had such an impact on California as In-N-Out, which humbly began seventy-five years ago. Tourists and locals alike flock to the nearly 400 locations across California and the western United States. The restaurant plans to expand into Tennessee and New Mexico in the Future. With such a large influx of customers, diners can often expect long lines and wait times. In-N-Out is famous for its menu filled with a selection of hamburgers and Animal-Style toppings that can be added to most items.
The fast-food chain was founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder. What began as a tiny burger stand in the Baldwin Park suburb of Los Angeles quickly became an empire. The two-way speaker box now used in drive-thrus around the world originated at In-N-Out, and the Snyders are credited for inventing it. Lynsi Snyder, Harry and Esther’s only grandchild, is the current president and CEO of the company.
In addition to being a clear leader in the fast-food sector, In-N-Out has also become a leader in employee care. In-N-Out employees tend to receive higher pay than those employed by other big-name chains. This became clear earlier this year when California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill mandating a $20 per hour minimum wage for fast-food employees; this new law will go into effect on April 1, 2024. As most employees are already earning higher wages than the new minimum, In-N-Out is already ahead of the curve.
In-N-Out’s new location in Lake Elsinore will drive more people to the suburb to both visit the restaurant and work at the restaurant. The Dexter Avenue development represents an influx of jobs and travelers driving down the I15 freeway. Interstate 15 runs from Las Vegas, through the High Desert, and down to San Diego, carrying many thousands of travelers through Southern California on a day-to-day basis. The location is sure to be valuable for In-N-Out and for Lake Elsinore residents.
