Cruelest April Fool's Joke So Far: In-N-Out Coming to NYC

[UPDATE BELOW] Some sick bastard is toying with the bellies of burger lovers in Manhattan this morning by putting up signs at various shuttered storefronts announcing that beloved In-N-Out Burger will be opening soon. Rumors that In-N-Out was making a move on Shake Shack's turf have been circulating for years, sparked more by desperation than any substantive news. And now a merciless prankster has exploited New Yorkers' perpetually frustrated lust for the In-N-Out by putting up signs like this in Union Square, where the Virgin Megastore used to be. The location is almost certainly way too big for an In-N-Out, so there's no fooling us there. But what about at 22nd Street and Broadway?

A tipster tells Eater that 'workers'—wearing In-N-Out caps and aprons—were outside 933 Broadway this morning, handing out fliers announcing that the stores will open on July 4th, 2010. (Burger Conquest has photos of the jokers.) Multiple conspirators? Convincing costumes? Fliers?! Who has the time for all this? Malicious, gold bricking blackguards, that's who. Unless... UNLESS it's true? Dare we dream? Those are good burgers, Walter.

UPDATE: Phyllis Cudworth, a kindly spokeswoman for In-N-Out, confirms that "someone is playing a fool's joke on us." Cudworth says In-N-Out doesn't have any plans to open locations in NYC. When asked why the hell not, she explained, "We're a small, family-owned business out here on the West Coast. We grind all our own all beef patties and deliver them to our locations every day, so because of the logistics it's just not something we're considering." Big exhale, Shake Shack.

UPDATE II: Looks like this was being videotaped for a College Humor gag.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Food on April 1, 2010 10:27 AM

Comments [rss]

Gina

oh and just to add, an old Virgin Megastore is NOT too big for INO...it would be packed. Once people try INO, there's no going back to anything else.

Gina

INO is the best on earth. They do not own a freezer at all in ANY of their stores. They hand pick, and do their own meat, potatoes are not some crappy coated things, theyre cut and cooked right there...I mean you can't beat the quality. They take care of their workers too, help them go to college and such. They're a good company.

They should stay west coast to keep it unique and for those who visit, it's a treat. Now they're planning 8 stores in Texas? Screw that.

Nothing beats a doubled double animal style anyways...

blogreaction

That is so mean.. hopefully they will open up for real in NYC.

elliot

in-n-out is the only reason i visit the US. if one opened in nyc, i wouldn't have to drive for 3 god damned days just for a decent burger. shit, i hate living in eastern canada so much.

LB

"In N Out" Sounds like most of the guys that post on this site ! Strong going "In", But quick to get out !

potsmoker

in out burger is good, tastes great, but their model is local thats why they are only in certain locations in reach of where the cows they kill for burgers are raised.

other than that bs, what about those wierd biblical references on their cups.

Radtard

I just don't get the big deal.

Yeah they make a good burger, but I can easily get better at a regular ol' family bbq.

Wza

I like In-N-Out.

Keep it on the West though.

To the LA folks, eat a dick.

You still claim "NY Pizza" out there.

Simon

Too bad you guys out there on the East Coast are missing out on some fantastic burgers that are far more superior in quality and taste than anyplace else. I love getting the 4x4 burger with a side of Animal Style french fries and some lemonade at the In-N-Out in Placentia, California near Cal State Fullerton (where I'm currently a student).

Might as well ask: any places on the east coast we on the west coast are missing out on?

Dead Himmler

You guys are missing Obama's fried chicken in Brooklyn.

Geoff

Look, I'm an ex NYCer living in Los Angeles, and In-N-0ut is okay, but it's not _that_ special. In fact there are better chains in LA. A lot of In-N-Out's popularity is due to it's relative scarcity nationwide. I remember the mystique that surrounded Coors beer because you couldn't get it in the east in the '70s. Same with Starbucks in the '90s. Careful what you wish for.

Cos

Blasphemy. In N Out > Fatburger.

Geoff

Believers will believe. :)

Greg

They're not coming because they're so small and they grind their own meat? They've got 240 locations spread over 750 miles in four states! They can open where they want, of course, but their stated reason sounds a little weak.

John Del Signore

Is there a Ralph's around here?

Lautaro

Those are good burgers, Walter.

poetofsorts

OMG! SO MEAN!!!! Argh now i want an In-N-Out Burger! UGH!!! And no Shack Shake can NOT compare to an In-N-Out Burger *le sigh*

Olin

this makes me glad I live 5 minutes away from a double double :)

suck on that east coast! thats one more point for the best west

paul

Haha, too bad poor NYC gets to keep enjoying paying 3 times as much to eat shit-shack's mini-burgers in below freezing temperatures while you continue to diss LA!

bigmikebrooklyn

At least I don't have to get in a car and drive to get to a restaurant, nor do I have to drive between bars, listen to the valley accent and cadence, perpetually fear earthquakes, or believe that 60 degrees fahrenheit is freezing. Also, People around here will usually just tell you if they like you or not, and not pretend they do until they have the opportunity to use you for something or stab you in the back.

but you do have in-n-out, great pavement for skating, and actual mexican food... hmmm.... meh.

AOA

If LA is so great why are you reading the NYC news?

saltmine

Because LA blogs are linking to this article.

Lautaro

When I first read this article, I thought: "Wowwwww, that's messed up- I'd loooove for In-N-Out to open up here because their burgers are awesome!" Then I thought about the unemployed people who might be walking past that sign, thinking that they might at last have a place to apply for a job. Now THAT'S messed up.

nicemarmot

That's just mean.

Investors et al have been trying to convince those guys to expand for ages, but they aren't interested.

John Del Signore

Do I have to do all the Lebowski references myself around here? Fine. The In-N-Out Burger is on Camrose.

Jason

F in-n-out. Bring me Carls Jr.

tom9d

Carls Jr. aint' got shit on In-N-Out.

matty

pretty good. :D

rasputinsghost

you fucking pieces of shit

how dare you get my hopes up

Karl Sakas

Spokeswoman Phyllis Cudworth's "why not" is deliciously on-message (small, family-owned, grind our own, fresh daily).

Of course, if pizza restaurants can truck NYC water elsewhere in the country, I'm sure In-N-Out could ship fresh ground beef beyond the West Coast...

saltmine

Water won't spoil sitting in a truck for 3 days!

Andrew

Damn, they really got me good. I was passing by that spot and they had a camera guy, and I was just so excited by the news, and it was too early in the morning to question it. I yelled out to the camera "I'll be there opening day!"

Word on the street is that this may be a CollegeHumor prank.

Damn.

douginthehouse

its just not that good.

tom9d

Lies.

ed_Extinct

Shake Shack replicated the In-N-Out Burger.

unretrofiedforu

Sure it did, @ like 3x the price too. Great business model.

jibbly

This is vicious cruelty. I don't wanna eat anything that's not double/doubled and animal style with cheese.

Hey, west coast, how about we trade our crap...er incredible White Castle chain for In-n-Out?

JenChungsBaby

This one will really separate the natives from the transplants. Because really, the last thing we need is another chain of burger shops.

chitchkoy

Natives will adopt anything that's better.

The only thing that separates us from the transplants is the ability to sleep on the train and wake up at your stop.

Kojak

You know I'd agree with you a few years ago before I tried In-N-Out.

But their burgers are soooo good and for such a good value too. Blows anything we have here out of the water.

jibbly

I'm an outer borough native through and through (with high school in Manhattan) and I can't think of any fast food chain that comes even close to In-n-Out in NYC.

Guest

april fool's:

best. clip. ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FVngHG_Zkc

tom9d

If In-N-Out came to New York, I would have nothing left to pray for.

thunderdtt

Oh californis is nice Just finished 2 double double double and a shake, Happy april

unretrofiedforu

What is it this time? Excessive calories? Deplorable work conditions? Animal rights violations? You hate the food?

Well I don't; and I'm sure other places have crap of their own. So go back to Subway.

aspiringrapper

Clearly he meant that all his prayers would have been answered.

unretrofiedforu

Then excuse me, it's hard to sift through all the junk to get to the good ones.

tom9d

What?! God, no! I love In-N-Out. It is the greatest fast food chain in the history of the universe! Every time I've been to the left coast, In-N-Out has been the highlight of my trip. All food should be available animal style.

You've misunderstood. I couldn't possibly love In-N-Out any more than I do. It's even listed as one of my interests on Facebook. Oh how I long for the day when they come to NYC.

sadpanda

I dunno. I think they should stick to the West Coast. We've got Shake Shack, they can keep In-n-Out. It wouldn't be nearly as much of a treat if In-n-Out hit NY.