In Vancouver, Washington, In-N-Out Burger is advancing its expansion strategy in the Pacific Northwest by proposing a new location. The Columbian initially reported that the popular California-based fast food chain had filed a preliminary commercial development application with the City of Vancouver on April 15. Plans reveal that the proposed 3,800-square-foot establishment would be positioned in the Fircrest neighborhood at 13511 SE 3rd Way, an address that previously hosted a Rite Aid pharmacy which shut down in January following the company’s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing.
This potential drive-thru in Vancouver would mark In-N-Out's second outpost in Clark County. Amid widespread rumors about a new site in Ridgefield, city authorities confirmed in late February that the burger company had submitted a permit application there. Additionally, In-N-Out is looking to establish a location in Beaverton, Oregon. In mid-April, officials in Washington County greenlit a land use proposal for a drive-thru restaurant at 10565 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.
Earlier efforts by the chain to develop in unincorporated areas of Washington County had been halted by zoning complications. More recently, a representative from In-N-Out reassured local officials that a comprehensive transportation management strategy would mitigate any potential traffic issues associated with the new sites.
With four existing locations in Oregon, including the first which opened in Medford in 2015, the chain continues to grow. A spokesperson for the City of Vancouver, Tim Becker, noted that a pre-application meeting for the Vancouver drive-thru is set for May 9, signaling the initial phase in the land use approval process required before construction permits can be sought. Becker highlighted this information in a recent email detailing the procedural steps involved.