An 18-year staple of a California community is being forced to shutter its business, but not for lack of profits.
Rather, the Oakland location of the fast-food franchise In-N-Out Burger is succumbing to safety concerns due to rampant crime in the area.
“Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies,” In-N-Out COO Denny Warnick wrote, according to CBS East Bay.
“Additionally, this location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and wellbeing of our Customers and Associates – we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment,” he added.
Robberies increased by 38% in the area from 2022 to 2023, according to numbers compiled by ABC 7 Bay Area. Burglaries rose by 23% and automotive theft leapt by 24%.
“We are grateful for the local community, which has supported us for over 18 years, and we recognize that this closure negatively impacts our Associates and their families,” Warnick wrote.
Workers at the Oakland In-N-Out are being allowed to choose between transferring to another restaurant in the chain or accepting a severance package.