KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee announced on Tuesday that In-N-Out Burger will establish an eastern corporate office in Franklin, according to a press release.
The company will invest $125.5 million in its first expansion east of Texas.
Construction on the office will begin by late 2024 and should be completed by 2026. The project will create 277 new jobs, according to the release.
In-N-Out plans to open future restaurants in the region, beginning with locations in and around Nashville by 2026.
"In-N-Out Burger is a great family business that has been operating for decades in this country with a value system and a way of serving their customers that lines up just right here in Tennessee," Lee said.
In-N-Out Burger is a popular Southern California chain that, until the past couple of decades, hadn't ventured out of the West Coast.
One of the things the chain is well-known for is its "secret" menu, which isn't much of a secret these days and includes off-menu items like "animal-style" burgers and fries. To go with the wild name, an "animal-style" burger is grilled in mustard and topped with a fully-loaded mess of grilled onions, pickles and extra special sauce. Think of it as the West Coast's version of "scattered, smothered, and covered."