That's What a Hamburger's All About...
I couldn't be happier to inform you all that In-N-Out has decided to stay a private company and continue to stick with the same simple menu. There has been a ton of pressure on the family-owned corporation to go public or to sell to a larger company for nationwide (perhaps worldwide) expansion. However, the family will continue to reign and keep the company as is.
They worry about going too big, too fast and wonder if they'll lose the mystique and loyalty associated with the chain. I couldn't agree more. When these companies go big, they lose their feel, they change their menu, and suddenly everyone knows who they are and what they're about. As for In-N-Out, they're rated with the highest customer satisfaction of any fast food chain. They have hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, drinks, and shakes. That's it. Everybody loves it, and everyone feels like a part of something that others aren't. New Yorkers don't know what In-N-Out is all about (pun slightly intended), and I like to keep it that way. Up until 8 years ago or so, I only knew a handful of people that knew what "animal-style" was. You must agree that there is some sort of cult following associated with In-N-Out... the religious writings on the cups, the crossed palm trees in front of every restaurant, the awesome, fresh food. I would attribute it all to being small and staying focused.
Look at Baja Fresh, for instance. They were tiny, had only a few stores in Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks (near where I grew up) and had lines out the friggin' doors all day long. Then they popped up in Beverly Hills, the SFV, and LA. Things continued to go well...
Then Wendy's steps in, changes the menu (a little so far, but I'd bet it will change a lot soon), and sales take a dive (not majorly, yet.... YET.) But the main point is that people like myself don't feel associated with that grass-roots type of restaurant like I did before anyone knew about it. It's just like Rubio's now, and I waste my breath trying to defend Baja, saying it was the original. I have no more ground to stand on, thanks to Wendy's.
If only companies that get a great idea would stick to being a representative of that great idea rather than turning to outright capitalism and hegemony. In-N-Out should never change their menu, and should continue to only expand at a slow rate to keep that mystique. I guarantee you they'll be full and successful as always.
Who really minds waiting for a double-double?
They worry about going too big, too fast and wonder if they'll lose the mystique and loyalty associated with the chain. I couldn't agree more. When these companies go big, they lose their feel, they change their menu, and suddenly everyone knows who they are and what they're about. As for In-N-Out, they're rated with the highest customer satisfaction of any fast food chain. They have hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, drinks, and shakes. That's it. Everybody loves it, and everyone feels like a part of something that others aren't. New Yorkers don't know what In-N-Out is all about (pun slightly intended), and I like to keep it that way. Up until 8 years ago or so, I only knew a handful of people that knew what "animal-style" was. You must agree that there is some sort of cult following associated with In-N-Out... the religious writings on the cups, the crossed palm trees in front of every restaurant, the awesome, fresh food. I would attribute it all to being small and staying focused.
Look at Baja Fresh, for instance. They were tiny, had only a few stores in Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks (near where I grew up) and had lines out the friggin' doors all day long. Then they popped up in Beverly Hills, the SFV, and LA. Things continued to go well...
Then Wendy's steps in, changes the menu (a little so far, but I'd bet it will change a lot soon), and sales take a dive (not majorly, yet.... YET.) But the main point is that people like myself don't feel associated with that grass-roots type of restaurant like I did before anyone knew about it. It's just like Rubio's now, and I waste my breath trying to defend Baja, saying it was the original. I have no more ground to stand on, thanks to Wendy's.
If only companies that get a great idea would stick to being a representative of that great idea rather than turning to outright capitalism and hegemony. In-N-Out should never change their menu, and should continue to only expand at a slow rate to keep that mystique. I guarantee you they'll be full and successful as always.
Who really minds waiting for a double-double?
posted by Travis at 4:35 PM
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