Search Here

In-N-Out Burger President Lynsi Snyder is moving her family from California to Tennessee, citing both personal and business reasons for the big decision.

The 43-year-old, who is the only heir to the popular burger chain, shared the news during an episode of the "Relatable" podcast hosted by Allie Beth Stuckey.

Snyder said her decision comes as the company builds a new office in Franklin, Tennessee.

"There's a lot of great things about California," she said, "but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here now."

The move also aligns with In-N-Out's eastward expansion. In 2023, the company announced it would bring its famous burgers to Tennessee, with the first restaurant expected to open in 2026.

Currently, In-N-Out operates over 400 restaurants in the western US, including states like Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Oregon, FoxBusiness said.

Despite growing demand, Snyder said they are still not expanding to Florida or the East Coast.

In-N-Out Closes Oakland Store After Crime Concerns

Snyder has four children with her husband, Sean Ellingston, who has worked in Christian ministry. She grew up in Northern California and later lived in Southern California, where In-N-Out has deep roots.

According to LosAngelesMagazine, her grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, founded the burger chain in Baldwin Park in 1948, making it the first drive-thru hamburger stand in the state.

This move comes after In-N-Out closed a location in Oakland last year due to crime. That store had been open for 18 years.

"Gunshots went through the store. There was a stabbing," Snyder shared in a previous interview. "For the safety of our associates, we just felt like this is not OK."

In addition to her personal move, Snyder confirmed that In-N-Out's Irvine headquarters will shut down by 2030—one year earlier than planned.

The company is returning to its Baldwin Park roots in California for its Southern California base, while Tennessee will eventually serve as its operational hub.

Snyder explained that her father had always wanted to keep the company tied to its origin story. "He said, 'This is not us. This is not our roots,'" she recalled. That history continues to guide how In-N-Out grows.

While the business is expanding, Snyder insists that it will stay true to its core values—family, faith, and quality.