Morgan Hill’s new In-N-Out drawing customers, employees
Morgan Hill’s new In-N-Out drawing customers, employees
n By Nathan Mixter
Staff Writer
Morgan Hill – Fast food lovers who enjoy In-N-Out Burger’s unique menu no longer have to make the drive to Gilroy to satisfy their cravings.
Ever since the restaurant chain opened its Morgan Hill restaurant on Nov. 30 across from Cochrane Plaza, people have packed the doors and drive thru .
The restaurant at Morgan Hill’s gateway hasn’t drawn the same traffic as its southern neighbor in Gilroy, meaning shorter lines for the customers.
“We’ve probably had about half to three fourths as much as Gilroy,” said Morgan Hill assistant manager Erik Phillips. “But there is lot more stores around there. Any In-N-Out will have a lot customers because of the product.”
In-N-Out, which serves made-to-order hamburgers under the motto of “serving quality food fast,” is family-owned company headquartered in Southern California and has about 24 restaurants in the South Bay area.
In addition to the fresh hamburgers, In-N-Out also cuts its own potatoes daily to make its French fries, cooked in “100% pure, cholesterol-free vegetable oil.”
But despite the freshness, the calories and chlorestoral of the sandwiches add up as quickly as they do in any of the other fast food restaurants. An In-N-Out cheeseburger has 480 calories, 240 from fat, and 40 milligrams of chlorestoral. A Big Mac has 560 calories, 270 from fat, but has twice the chlorestoral.
Even though In-N-Out is not completely dieter friendly, the restaurant has become a popular destination not only for diners, but also workers.
“The kids here are bright and happy,” said repeat customer Jon Anderson, 62, a landscaping contractor who works in Morgan Hill. “It seems like they really like working here. The hamburgers are also pretty good.”
With a starting wage of $9.25, In-N-Out Burger has become a place where people enjoy working. And store managers can make close to $100,000 according to the company’s Web site.
“I love it here,” said Ashley, a 21-year-old associate who declined to give her last name. “I love the people. It is a real positive experience.”
She was working at the Gilroy location for four years before transferring to Morgan Hill to join about 50 other associates.
For some associates (not employees as the company is quick to correct), working for In-N-Out has become a family tradition.
“It’s really great,” said Stacy Williams, 41, who’s dad worked for the company for 40 years. “I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.”
Williams is part of the crew of associates who travel around to help open new stores. She has helped open 39 store on the West Coast.
“This is a beautiful store here,” Williams said. “We try to follow our mission statement with all the stores. They all have the same atmosphere and same work happiness.”
Steph Marchesano, 20, is another associate who travels opening stores. She also was exposed to the In-N-Out Burger culture early because her dad has been working with the company since she was born.
“I’ve worked for Disney and for Abercrombie & Fitch, but this is by far the best company I’ve worked for,” Marchesano said. “Every associate is valuable. It is a different type of management. I can go right to the owner and talk to her one-on-one. They take care of you.”
In-N-Out Burger celebrated its 100th restaurant opening in Gilroy. Morgan Hill was number 198, and the 200th location is scheduled to open later this month.
In-N-Out Burger in Morgan Hill is open from 10am to 1pm Sunday through Thursday and from 10am to 1:30pm Friday and Saturday.
Denny’s, which sits on the adjacent lot that In-N-Out owns, was originally scheduled to open at the same time as In-N-Out. The new opening date is scheduled for Dec. 18 at 10pm.
