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In-N-Out’s Lynsi Snyder Is Moving to Tennessee — Fans Are Split on What It Means
In-N-Out’s CEO Lynsi Snyder is moving to Tennessee, sparking a cultural clash over business, values, and the soul of a California icon.
Image created with chatGBT
The news that In-N-Out Burger’s billionaire owner, Lynsi Snyder, is moving her family to Tennessee has ignited a fiery debate. On the surface, it’s a personal relocation. But for many Californians, it feels like something much bigger: the symbolic departure of a beloved homegrown brand.
✅ What’s Happening
Snyder, who has led In-N-Out since 2010, is relocating to Franklin, Tennessee. The move is part personal, part strategic—In-N-Out is expanding into the Southeast with plans for a new regional hub in Tennessee to support operations beginning in 2026.
However, the company emphasized that its corporate headquarters will remain in California, specifically in Baldwin Park. The Irvine office will be closed by 2030, but that’s part of a consolidation—not a retreat.
🗣️ The Positive Reaction: Business Strategy & Personal Freedom
Supporters of Snyder’s move argue it’s a smart decision—both for her family and the company’s long-term growth.
“It’s refreshing to see a CEO prioritize family values and long-term planning,” one LinkedIn user posted. “Tennessee offers affordability and space to grow.”
Proponents cite the following reasons for supporting the move:
Lower cost of living and housing for In-N-Out associates in the Southeast Business-friendly regulations and less red tape Snyder’s freedom to live and raise her family where she feels most comfortable Strategic expansion rather than nationwide dilution of the brand
For these fans, the move represents a new chapter, not a betrayal.
“This doesn’t mean they’re ditching California,” said one longtime fan from Las Vegas. “It just means they’re growing.”
😡 The Backlash: California Fans Feel Abandoned
But the reaction hasn’t been all positive.
Image Created with chatGBT
On social media, many Californians expressed outrage, seeing the move as a slap in the face from a brand that owes much of its identity to the West Coast.
“You can’t claim to love California and then bash it on your way out,” one critic wrote on X.
“If you’re tired of our taxes, take your burgers with you.”
Others took issue with Snyder’s comments criticizing California’s COVID policies, cost of living, and government regulations. For some, it echoed a larger trend of high-profile individuals leaving the state while blaming it publicly.
Critics warn that:
Snyder’s move sends a political message, whether she intends it or not. It may set the tone for a slow shift away from California roots. The “California cool” factor of In-N-Out could be diluted by growth outside the state.
Some even threatened boycotts, accusing Snyder of hypocrisy: benefitting from California’s success while distancing herself when it no longer suits her lifestyle.
🔍 A Cultural Symbol Caught in the Crossfire
In-N-Out isn’t just a burger chain. It’s a cultural landmark, tied to sunny drives on the PCH, late-night food runs, and West Coast nostalgia.
So when its CEO relocates and criticizes the state, it stirs deeper emotions. This isn’t just about burgers—it’s about identity, pride, and place.
“In-N-Out is California,” one viral comment read. “Tennessee can’t have it.”
Still, the business remains rooted in the state. More In-N-Outs are opening in California this year than anywhere else, and Snyder herself took to Instagram to reiterate her love for the state: “We’re not leaving—we’re growing.”
🍔 Final Thoughts
The Snyder move may not mean a corporate departure from California, but it has clearly struck a nerve. It highlights a national conversation about where business belongs, how identity is shaped by geography, and whether legacy brands can grow without losing their soul.
In the end, only time will tell if In-N-Out’s double-doubles taste the same when served from Tennessee.
Related Links:
Business Insider: Snyder’s move and company expansion
SFGate: Public backlash over Snyder’s comments
SF Chronicle: HQ plans and California commitment
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Feeding America is marking National Agriculture Day by recognizing farmers, ranchers, and producers as key partners in the fight against hunger.
In a March 24 press release, the organization said the agricultural community plays a vital role in helping food banks and pantries deliver fresh, nutritious food to families across the country. Feeding America noted that produce, dairy, and protein are among the most requested foods by neighbors facing hunger and make up half of all food distributed through its network.
The organization said that in 2025, its network worked with growers to rescue 971 million pounds of fresh produce, helping redirect surplus food to communities in need. Feeding America also pointed to federal nutrition and farm support programs, saying government purchases from U.S. growers provide more than 20% of the food distributed through its network.
Ami McReynolds, Feeding America’s chief advocacy and community partnerships officer, said supporting farmers is directly connected to helping families access healthy meals. The organization is also urging Congress to support additional farm aid and a Farm Bill that strengthens nutrition programs.
Feeding America said a recent poll found that 95% of voters view hunger as a nonpartisan issue, reinforcing support for collaborative solutions between agriculture, food banks, and policymakers.
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The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.
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McDonald’s First Job Confessional Turns Career Stories Into Free Meal Opportunity
McDonald’s is launching First Job Confessional, a campaign inviting fans to share first job stories for a chance to receive a $15 gift card in select cities.
First Job Confessional
McDonald’s is putting first jobs in the spotlight with a new campaign that asks fans to share the real-world skills they gained early in their working lives. Launched on National Employee Appreciation Day, the brand’s First Job Confessional invites people to reflect on how those first roles helped shape their careers — and, in some cases, earn a free meal in the process.
The campaign is built around a simple idea: first jobs often teach lasting skills that deserve more recognition. Whether someone learned problem-solving while babysitting, communication during a lunch rush, or teamwork behind a counter, McDonald’s is framing those experiences as valuable career foundations. The company says those are the same kinds of skills employers continue to prioritize as workplace demands evolve.
How the First Job Confessional Works
In select cities, McDonald’s is setting up confessional booths designed to look like ordering kiosks. But instead of placing a meal order, participants can record a story about their first job and the skills they picked up along the way. Those who take part in person will have the opportunity to receive a $15 McDonald’s gift card, while supplies last.
Fans who cannot attend in person can still join online by posting their stories using #FirstJobConfessional. McDonald’s says selected videos may also be featured on its YouTube channel, extending the campaign beyond the live events.
External Related Links
- McDonald’s corporate article: McDonald’s is Asking Fans to Get Real About Their First Job Skills in Exchange for Free Meals
- McDonald’s 1 in 8: First Job Confessional
- McDonald’s 1 in 8 home page
- Marketing Dive coverage of the campaign
- Parade coverage of the First Job Confessional tour
Source Links
- Original PRNewswire press release from McDonald’s USA, LLC
- McDonald’s official corporate story
- McDonald’s 1 in 8 First Job Confessional page
- McDonald’s 1 in 8 official website
The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.
https://stmdailynews.com/the-bridge
The Knowledge
Why Phoenix’s Skyline Has Stayed Low — And How It Compares to Los Angeles
Discover why Phoenix’s skyline lacks supertall skyscrapers, from FAA flight path limits near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to how it compares with Los Angeles’s skyline growth.
Last Updated on March 25, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States, yet its skyline doesn’t resemble other major metros like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Dallas. Despite rapid population and economic growth, downtown Phoenix has long lacked supertall skyscrapers — and until recently, didn’t even have a building tall enough to qualify as a true “skyscraper” under standard definitions.
The Basics: Phoenix’s Height Reality
The tallest structure in Phoenix for decades has been Chase Tower, rising to about 483 feet. Under the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat definition, a skyscraper reaches at least 492 feet — which means Phoenix has technically lacked one — despite its size and population.
A new project, the Astra Tower, is planned to rise around 540+ feet when it breaks ground, potentially giving Phoenix its first true skyscraper.
Airport Proximity: The FAA’s Height Grid
FAA Obstacle Evaluation & Downtown Limits
Phoenix’s skyline constraints are rooted in aviation safety.
📍 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport sits just a few miles from downtown.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates building heights near airports so they don’t obstruct flight paths, require planes to alter approaches, or interfere with climb-out safety.
- In Phoenix, this results in a layered set of height limits that vary by location and elevation above sea level — often measured in feet above mean sea level (MSL) rather than simply building height from ground.
The city’s zoning code divides downtown into multiple contour zones with distinct maximum elevation values (e.g., 1,275 ft, 1,525 ft, 1,700 ft MSL), each tied to how close it sits under airport flight paths.
That means in some blocks you can’t build above a specific elevation even if ground levels are lower — a regulatory “roof” that varies across downtown.
City zoning also explicitly states that no building can exceed the FAA’s airport height limits, even if other bonuses or zoning allowances exist.
Phoenix vs. Los Angeles: A Quick Comparison
Los Angeles: Higher Limits, Different Constraints
Cities like Los Angeles also have nearby airports (e.g., Los Angeles International Airport), but their key business districts aren’t directly under major flight corridors.
LA’s downtown has:
- Taller office and residential towers
- A financial core with dense development
- Fewer FAA-driven overlays because the flight paths stretch past the downtown edge
Los Angeles’s tallest buildings — including Wilshire Grand Center (~1,100 ft) and U.S. Bank Tower (~1,018 ft) — were built where FAA restrictions don’t force low ceilings. FAA evaluations were conducted but didn’t cut as deeply into downtown zoning compared to Phoenix.
Phoenix, by contrast, sits right under approach and departure corridors — leading to consistent FAA involvement in almost every proposed mid- or high-rise downtown.
Economic and Planning Philosophies
Beyond FAA rules:
- Phoenix developed in the automobile era, with vast inexpensive land encouraging horizontal growth.
- Los Angeles grew earlier with heavier investment in centralized neighborhoods and higher density.
- Phoenix’s village plan long encouraged multiple smaller hubs instead of concentrating all growth in one downtown core.
These historical differences mean Phoenix didn’t have the same economic “pressure” to build up — even with zoning that allows significant height if FAA permits are met.
What This Means for Phoenix’s Future
Phoenix still has room to grow vertically — but:
- FAA height contours will remain the ceiling unless flight paths change
- Developers must secure determinations of no hazard from the FAA before going taller
- New projects like Astra show demand for taller buildings is rising
As Phoenix’s urban core densifies and land becomes scarcer, its skyline may yet reach higher — but always within the invisible grid drawn by aviation safety.
Related External Links
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Official Website
- FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA)
- City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department
- Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)
- Los Angeles World Airports (LAX Authority)
- Phoenix Skyscraper Database & Diagrams
- Los Angeles Skyscraper Database & Diagrams
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