As California's In-N-Out Invades Oregon, Baker City Mourns In & Out

As Medford hysterically welcomes Oregon's first In-N-Out Burger this week, Baker City mourns the loss of a similarly named but totally separate family-owned burger joint, the In & Out Drive-In.

Coincidence? 

The timing of In-N-Out's entrance and In & Out's exit—the 67-year-old California-based chain opened its Medford location on Sept. 9, and the 61-year-old Baker City institution sold to a new owner on Aug. 28—is fueling speculation in the tiny Eastern Oregon town of 10,000 that the two incidents are related.

But if that's true, no one connected to the sale will say so.

Property records in Baker County list the new owner of the drive-in at 2990 10th Street as the 2990 10th Street, LLC. State records connect the limited liability company to a P.O. Box in Henderson, Nev., but county records say property tax bills are supposed to go to a lawyer in Walnut Creek, Calif.

That lawyer, Michael Geronimo, declined to answer WW's questions about the LLC's $182,000 purchase last month. "I can't really comment on that," he says.

Dale Lethlean, a member of the family that's owned In & Out since 1954, also isn't talking. "I'm sworn to secrecy," he tells WW.

Meanwhile, Lynsi Snyder, president of the Irvine-based In-N-Out, tells The Oregonian that the chain plans to add locations in Oregon. As In-N-Out expands, it probably doesn't want to be confused with other restaurants.

The chain sued a Eugene burger joint called In or Out in 2003, claiming trademark violations.

A spokesman for the chain has not returned WW's phone calls.