Chain remains privately owned with 39,000 employees at 400 locations and growing
The Upper Cumberland Business Journal has learned that In-N-Out Burger’s Cookeville location will set up shop in the Willows Shopping Center.
Along with Target and Home Depot, the shopping center, which has already broken ground, will also feature 3 restaurants among the five planned outparcels, one of which is a 5,000 square foot outparcel. For reference, the average square foot of an In-N-Out restaurant is 3,000 square feet, but some are larger.
According to sources, that outparcel or one of the other outparcels will be the new home of the recently announced In-N-Out restaurant.
“We are very excited to provide Tennesseans with our quality burgers, fries and shakes,” said Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, In-N-Out’s third-generation owner and president. “In every decision I make, I always consider what my family would want. I do not doubt that my grandparents, dad, and uncle would be proud of this decision to grow our associate family and serve even more amazing customers beginning in Nashville and the surrounding areas. This expansion is significant for our company.”
In-N-Out is a favorite out west, and officials say they want to establish a strong foothold in the south. It was founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California, and has since grown from a single drive-thru hamburger stand to a regional chain with more than 380 locations across seven states. The chain remains privately owned with 39,000 employees at 400 locations and growing.
The company has restaurants in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Texas, Colorado and Idaho. Following the Tennessee expansion, there are plans for locations in Washington and New Mexico.
The Willows is expected to open in Oct. 2026 with Development Management Group, LLC (DMG) of Nashville and CHM, LLC currently developing the project. It will sit on the 40-acre tract of land just off I-40 and Willow. Progress on the massive project is made daily, with dirt movers making more and more headway.
There has been no official announcement that In-N-Out will set up shop next to Target, but the two fan favorites may soon share the same space. Shoppers rejoice; everything is coming together at The Willows.
UCBJ file photo.
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