In-N-Out owner says the Oakland restaurant was closed for the safety of customers and staff

In-N-Out in Oakland earlier this year became the first location of the restaurant chain to permanently close, a decision the fast-food company’s owner recently doubled down on by blaming rampant crime, slow police response times and “absolutely dangerous ” conditions for customers and staff.

In-N-Out representatives had previously blamed rising crime for the closing, and the chain’s owner, Lynsi Snyder, elaborated on the decision Monday in an interview with conservative media PragerU. The popular burger joint, which opened in Baldwin Park in 1948, opened its 400th store last year and now operates in eight states.

The Oakland restaurant, which closed in March, was located near Hegenberger Road, a main route to and from Oakland International Airport.

“Out of 365 days, I think (in) almost 300 days there was some kind of event, some kind of thing in Oakland,” Snyder said of the location.

She elaborated that it involved robbery, car break-ins, violence, fights and theft.

“There was actually a shot (that) went through the store,” Synder said.

When In-N-Out announced the closing in January, Denny Warnick, the company’s chief operating officer, said that “despite repeated measures to create safer conditions,” the restaurant closed because customers regularly became victims of crime.

On Monday, Synder said the store was closed for the safety of their employees, adding that “we just felt this is not right and the time it would take the police to get there was also alarming. ”

In-N-Out representatives did not respond to The Times’ request for clarification on what police response times were.

In a statement, the Oakland Police Department said crime is down 34% overall compared to this time last year.

“The continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners, the implementation of the Ceasefire Gun Prevention Strategy and greatly improved 911 pickup times continue to pay off,” the statement said.

Still, other high-profile restaurants and businesses in Oakland have closed due to the city’s crime problem.

In response to the problem, state officials offered support and residents voted to recall the mayor, whom many blamed for the lack of law enforcement in Oakland.

In February, Gov. Gavin Newsom sent 120 Highway Patrol officers to the city during a state law enforcement campaign aimed at reducing violent crime and theft.

City and nonprofit officials are working to restore Ceasefire, a prevention program that pairs residents with life coaches and services that include therapy, drug rehabilitation and job training. The program was credited by city officials with a 43% reduction in homicides from 2012 to 2017. The program faltered during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person visits were put on hold.

A group called Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao campaigned to remove her as mayor for failing to declare a state of emergency on crime, for failing to replace the fire chief she fired in February and missing a 2023 deadline for applying for more than $276 millions in government funds. to cities and counties to combat retail theft.