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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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In-N-Out Burger, one of Southern California's most popular fast-food chains, has announced plans to consolidate its two offices in the state and open up a new headquarters in Tennessee.
Why It Matters
In-N-Out's decision to close its office in Irvine, Orange County, after 30 years and establish a second headquarters in Tennessee comes amid a broader trend of businesses relocating from high-tax, high-regulation states to more business-friendly environments.
Read More on U.S.
As one of California's most iconic brands, In-N-Out's shift eastward raises questions about the long-term impact on the state's economy and business retention.
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What To Know
In-N-Out's West Coast base will now be in its other California location, in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles County.
The company also said it is opening a new headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, by 2026 to manage its eastern U.S. operations and plans to open 35 restaurants in the state in the coming years.
According to a news release by the company, 500 people are currently employed at the Irvine office and some of them may relocate to Tennessee, while others will move to the Baldwin Park office. The Irvine office is slated to be phased out by 2029.
In-N-Out founder Harry Snyder opened his first burger stand at Francisquito and Garvey avenues in Baldwin Park in 1948. In 1994, the company established a corporate headquarters at 4199 Campus Drive in Irvine in Orange County.
In-N-Out first revealed plans to establish a corporate hub in Franklin in 2023, committing to a $125-million statewide investment and creating at least 275 corporate jobs.
In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder, the granddaughter of Harry Snyder, said the move "brings our In-N-Out family back together in a way that helps us better serve our customers."
Matt Largen, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Office for Williamson County, said the decision will create jobs and career opportunities in Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee posted to X, formerly Twitter, to commend the company for moving its HQ to his state. "Proud that In-N-Out Burger is fully relocating its California headquarters to the Volunteer State," he said.
However, some people were not so excited by the move. In a post on X, California Senate Republicans said the news that the company was relocating to Tennessee was "sad, but not surprising."
"California is not promoting entrepreneurship. Instead, bad policies are stifling it. The nonstop attacks on employers here is taking its toll," they added.
As of February, In-N-Out had more than 400 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas and Washington.
In recent years, many businesses, especially those in Silicon Valley, have relocated their headquarters out of California. Notable companies that have made this move include Tesla, SpaceX and Whole Foods.
Companies have relocated to states including Texas, Tennessee, and Arizona, where taxes are generally lower.
Research by the Hoover Institution identifies several factors contributing to business relocations, including "taxes, regulations, litigation costs, labor costs, energy and utility costs, and employee cost of living."
California has some of the highest taxes in the country. The Tax Foundation ranks the Golden State 49th on its business tax climate rankings, ranking behind only New Jersey.
Meanwhile, according to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, California has 396,000 regulatory restrictions, making it one of the most regulated states in the country.
What People Are Saying
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee posted to X: "Proud that In-N-Out Burger is fully relocating its California headquarters to the Volunteer State, with 35 new storefronts expected to open & serve Tennesseans in the years ahead. Welcome home,@innoutburger!"
California Senate Republicans posted to X: "News that In-N-Out is closing a California based HQ and relocating to Tennessee is sad, but not surprising. California is not promoting entrepreneurship. Instead, bad policies are stifling it. The nonstop attacks on employers here is taking its toll."
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder said in a statement: "In every decision about the future of In-N-Out Burger, I give strong consideration to what my grandparents and my family would think is best for our company. I know my family would be in support of this move because it brings our In-N-Out family back together in a way that helps us better serve our customers, who are the most important priority."
Williamson County Chamber of Commerce president Matt Largen said: "The new Eastern Territory Office of In-N-Out will provide good paying jobs for the residents of Williamson County and Middle Tennessee. Our business recruitment strategy focuses on corporate operations because of the high salaries those kind of companies bring to a community.
"In-N-Out will create not just jobs for our community, they will create career opportunities for our friends, families, and neighbors."
What Happens Next
The Irvine office will be phased out by 2029, while the Tennessee office will be opened by 2026, the company said.
Corrections 2/28/2025, 6:21 a.m. and 7 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to clarify that California is the Golden State and that In-N-Out will have headquarters in both California and Tennessee.
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