In-N-Out is coming to Ridgefield; Clark County lands popular fast-food joint before Portland

Clark County residents craving a cheeseburger animal style are in luck. California fast-food chain In-N-Out submitted an application earlier this month for a Ridgefield location.

The restaurant would be the first In-N-Out in Washington, according to planning documents submitted to the city of Ridgefield. The company plans to build near the under-construction Ridgefield Costco at Union Ridge Town Center on Pioneer Street, just west of Interstate 5.

The city expects the In-N-Out building to be a “unique and really high quality” design that complements Ridgefield and In-N-Out, said Ridgefield City Manager Steve Stuart.

The company hasn’t given the city any indication of when the new restaurant would open, Stuart said.

Mike Abbate, vice president of store development at In-N-Out, said the Ridgefield location is still very early in the development process.

“We are hopeful for a positive outcome, as we work with the city in pursuit of our permits and approvals,” he said.

Abbate said In-N-Out restaurants usually take eight to nine months to open once construction begins.

“It would be premature to comment on a timeline for an opening date or when we will even achieve our development application approval,” he added.

“We look forward to the possibility of being a part of the Ridgefield community, and having this great location to serve our customers,” said Abbate.

Union Ridge Town Center openings, including In-N-Out, wouldn’t be dependent on Costco opening, Stuart said. The Columbian previously reported Costco expects to open its third Clark County warehouse by the end of the year.

Road construction around the shopping center is already underway and expected to be completed this fall.

The city is moving ahead with its Pioneer Street widening project, set to go out to bid in April with work beginning in June.

Proposal

In-N-Out envisions a 4,354-square-foot building with a covered patio and 76 parking stalls. The restaurant will also include a drive-thru capable of accommodating 46 cars, according to planning documents. For comparison, Cascade Park’s Chick-fil-A location has a double stacked drive thru line with about half that capacity.

Documents show In-N-Out plans to be open 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
In-N-Out expects the location will have 10 to 15 associates per shift with three shifts per day.

The restaurant chain has worked with the city of Ridgefield in getting to the application stage, according to planning documents.

The location will not be a typical In-N-Out design but will instead incorporate darker colors and different building materials as desired by the city.
In-N-Out is a cultural icon in California, long known for its simple and affordable menu.

The 76-year-old fast-food chain serves burgers, cheeseburgers, milkshakes and fries. Burgers can be made a variety of ways from the restaurant’s “Not So Secret Menu.” Customers can customize burgers with two meat patties, with three or four patties and cheese slices, without meat, without a bun or served animal style — a mustard cooked patty with pickles, extra spread and grilled onions.

Long lines

The closest In-N-Out to Clark County is in Keizer, Ore., just outside Salem. Though the restaurant chain has proposed several in the Portland-metro area, none have come to fruition.

In-N-Out first opened in Oregon in 2015 with a location in Medford. There are also locations in Roseburg and Grants Pass.

When Oregon’s locations opened, people stood in line overnight to get their hands on an In-N-Out burger.

Clark County teens have long made pilgrimages to the fast-food chain with the so-called In-N-Out Challenge. Before locations opened in Oregon, adventurous teens would leave right after the afternoon bell, drive to the then-closest location in Redding, Calif., get burgers and T-shirts and then drive back before school the next morning.

In-N-Out’s Oregon locations are known for their long lines. Even in California, lines stretch around In-N-Out buildings.

The company currently has 401 locations in California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Texas.

Shari Phiel contributed to this story.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to correct the restaurant is expected to be open until 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.