In-N-Out Burger, a brand with a passionate following, is opening a restaurant in Washington for the first time, and big crowds are expected on opening day — Wednesday, Aug. 20 — and for the foreseeable future

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

For some, it is just another fast food hamburger restaurant.

Oh, but for so many — so, so many — it is the greatest, freshest, and good-to-the-wallet fast food hamburger restaurant in the world.

And it is opening Wednesday in Ridgefield.

The not-so-tiny city of Ridgefield, which seems to be growing every day, will now lead the way for an entire state when the first In-N-Out Burger in Washington opens.

Costco was the first major business to open in the Union Ridge Town Center, just off of Interstate 5. Several other businesses have opened recently, and now it is time for the debut of In-N-Out Burger in Washington. 

Steve Stuart, city manager, said that Ridgefield is thrilled to be home to Costco and In-N-Out Burger, not just any companies but “companies that treat their customers and their people well.”

This In-N-Out Burger will employ approximately 80 employees at a starting wage of $18.75 an hour, according to a press release sent out by the company to announce Wednesday’s opening date.

Those who know … know: Any new In-N-Out Burger attracts huge crowds. Until Wednesday, the closest In-N-Out Burger to Washingtonians is in Keizer, Ore. Open for years, that location can still have long drive-thru lines. One person on a popular social media page dedicated to In-N-Out Burger fans said the wait was 60 minutes in Keizer this past weekend.

Well, at least temporarily, the Ridgefield location will become the closest In-N-Out Burger for all of Washington and the Portland area, too. (Another In-N-Out Burger is being built in east Vancouver now, and there are plans to have several in the Portland area in the coming years.) 

For now, though, the Ridgefield location becomes the place to go for so many in the Northwest.

Expect long lines inside the restaurant and perhaps hundreds of cars, at least in the short-term, queued up for the drive-thru experience.

“We’ve been working for months with the company and all of our jurisdictional partners to create a traffic management plan,” Stuart said. “We have a plan. We’ll have constant monitoring so we can adapt.”

Yes, the city has traffic cameras right along the area of all new construction off of Pioneer St., and into Union Ridge Town Center.

“There are challenges that come with the excitement, but these are great challenges to have, as an area, to be leading the way,” Stuart said.

On Monday afternoon, the city reminded In-N-Out Burger fans that there is no stopping, parking, or camping on public roads.

“While many are eager to visit, please remember: it is unlawful under state law and local ordinance to stop or park on public roadways in a way that blocks traffic,” noted a post on the city’s social media accounts.

“The City has worked closely with In-N-Out Burger to create a Traffic Management Plan that keeps all customer lines off public streets,” the post continued. “The plan includes active monitoring, coordination, and close community with Ridgefield Police and Public Works.”

Earlier the city said that vehicles will not be allowed in the line if the line stretches out to public roadways. 

In-N-Out Burger opened its first location as California’s first “drive-thru” hamburger stand in 1948. 

Today, hamburgers are still made-to-order, shakes are still made with real ice cream, and associates are treated like family, according to the press release. 

Hamburger patties are made from 100-percent American beef, and they are never frozen. 

Clint Ford, who has worked for In-N-Out Burger for 26 years, will manage the Ridgefield restaurant, located at 5801 N. Pioneer Canyon Drive.

In-N-Out Burger has locations throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho. This is the first location in Washington. In-N-Out Burger was founded by Harry and Esther Snyder and is still owned and operated by the Snyder family. None of the restaurants are franchised.

For more on the passion of some fans, see our column posted in July: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-in-n-out-burger-is-so-much-more-than-fast-food-for-so-many-of-us/