Will In-N-Out Burger Ever Come to Missouri? It’s Not Impossible

Let's be clear. As of this writing, In-N-Out Burger has no specific plans to come to Missouri, but they are headed this direction. Here's a theory of why that burger dream is not impossible. In fact, I'd argue it's inevitable.

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If you look at the current locations of In-N-Out Burger, you can see that they are expanding eastward. What began as a California staple has now crossed the Rocky Mountains.

But there are very new expansion plans just announced by In-N-Out Burger...

The San Francisco Gate shared an article just a couple weeks ago announcing that In-N-Out Burger was expanding eastward again. They will be opening locations in New Mexico, but that's not all. In a move more interesting for Missouri, In-N-Out is building a corporate building in Tennessee and will have restaurants there, too. That means we're practically neighbors already.

Back in May, KSDK in St. Louis asked the decision makers of In-N-Out Burger specifically about if they plan to expand into Missouri. Their CEO said "we do not have current plans to open restaurants in Missouri". I've added emphasis to the "current plans" part because that's a corporate way of leaving wiggle room later if they make the move.

If I were a betting person, I'd say that In-N-Out will take a more serious look at Missouri once the Tennessee locations are open for business. It would be easy to imagine an In-N-Out in St. Louis or Kansas City within the next half dozen years. If Patrick Mahomes can make Whataburger work there, In-N-Out can, too.