In ‘n’ out lives
What ever happened to In ‘N’ Out Burger and Applebees? I haven’t seen anything in the paper about it for some time.
Caller, your timing is perfect. There has, indeed, been a long dry spell between burger stories but things are heating up again. In May 2003 the City Council said In ‘N’ Out could build on the northwest corner of Cochrane Road and Highway 101, but they had to bring a sit-down restaurant along with them.
Fast food restaurants were not what the general plan committee had in mind for one of the city’s “gateway” interchanges and council had to adopt an ordinance changing the rules.
At first, the family-owned burger company lured Applebee’s, but that fell through and the deal stalled. Now they have enticed Denny’s Restaurant, familiar to highway travelers everywhere. The City Council had hopes for a more interesting restaurant (Outback was mentioned) but is likely to accept Denny’s as the best they can get.
The Architectural Review Board reviewed Denny’s application on Thursday night.
Planning Manager Jim Rowe said the board sent Denny’s bare bones franchise-type design back to the drawing board, asking for more style and architectural interest, befitting the city’s gateway.
“The board said you need to do more than just your basic design,” Rowe said.
In ‘N’ Out Burger has already agreed to improve its design for the same reason and to improve its landscaping and traffic flow as well because it will sit between the Highway 101 offramp and the busy intersection of Cochrane Road and Madrone Parkway.
In ‘N’ Out representative Ron Volle told the council in May 2003 that the restaurant, besides offering up to 50 jobs for residents, could be expected to produce $50,000 a year in sales taxes. Sales taxes pay for police and fire protection, city recreation and some city adminstration costs.
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, In ‘N’ Out will ask the City Council to allow it to begin construction before Denny’s does – a reversal of previous council instructions.
Denny’s says it wants to begin operations as soon as possible; can In ‘N’ Out – the darling of high school students everywhere – be far behind?The Red Phone sounds off Saturday in The Times.
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