RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — In-N-Out Burger has filed a development application with the City of Ridgefield, a spokesperson for the company confirmed with KING 5 on Thursday.
Though the project is still "very early in the development process," the spokesperson said the company is "hopeful for a positive outcome" as it pursues permits.
The In-N-Out location would be part of the Union Ridge Town Center.
If In-N-Out gets approval for development, it typically takes eight to nine months to build a restaurant and open for business, according to the company spokesperson. The company would not comment on a timeline for an opening date or when it could receive approval of development.
A Ridgefield In-N-Out would be the first location in Washington state. Currently, the closest location is Salem, Oregon.
In a statement to KING 5, the city said its permitting and engineering teams are "working closely with In-N-Out’s team to ensure they are not only creating enough queuing spaces to avoid backups onto roads, but also that the design of the building will be unique, high-quality and complementary to Ridgefield."
Previous restaurant openings, such as those of Chick-fil-A, have created traffic issues in Washington due to their popularity.
"We look forward to the possibility of being a part of the Ridgefield community, and having this great location to serve our customers," a statement from the company reads.
The first In-N-Out opened in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California. By 1958, there were five southern California locations in the San Gabriel Valley. In 1973, there were 13 locations, all in Los Angeles County. That number grew to 32 by 1984.
Fast-forward to 2023 and In-N-Out opened its 400th location in Meridian, Idaho.
In-N-Out has restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
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