Oakland crime causes In-N-Out Burger to shut down city’s only location

The Raiders left Oakland. The Warriors left Oakland. The A’s are set to leave Oakland. And now In-N-Out Burger is joining the exodus.

The iconic California fast-food chain is closing its only location in the city because of crime problems around the restaurant, one of the company’s top executives said.

COO Denny Warnick said in a statement that its lone store in the East Bay city will close on March 24 “due to ongoing issues with crime.” It has been open for nearly two decades.

“Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies,” Mr. Warnick said.

The executive pointed out that crime hasn’t affected the bottom line — in fact, the store on Oakport Street is a money maker for the fast-food chain that’s largely based in the West and Southwest.

But he said that benefit plays second fiddle to its consistent security issues.  

“This location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and wellbeing of our customers and associates – we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment,” Mr. Warnick said.

A relentless crime wave overtook Oakland in 2023, with the city recording major spikes in robberies (up 38% from 2022), burglaries (up 23%) and car thefts (up 45%). The city ended the year with a 21% increase in violent crime when compared to 2022.

Mr. Warnick said current employees will have the option to transfer to another store in the San Francisco Bay Area or take a severance package once the Oakland location shuts down in the spring.