In-N-Out Burger in Talks with Rancho Mirage

RANCHO MIRAGE —  In-N-Out Burger is in talks with Rancho Mirage leaders to open one of its popular fast-food restaurants in the community.

Some say it is a done deal and will be located in the Rancho Las Palmas Shopping Center and be equipped with a drive-thru. The Shopping Center is located at 42-450 Bob Hope Drive and is home to Stein Mart, CVS Pharmacy, Hobby Lobby, and more.

Mayor Richard Kite confirmed to Uken Report that there has been a lot of discussion with the Irvin-based In-N-Out Burger.

“There has been no official announcement,” Kite said. “Nothing has been finalized. You never can tell about these things. There is still a lot to be resolved.”

Beyond  that, Kite said he simply could not comment.

Carl Arena, vice president of Real Estate and Development for In-N-Out Burger, told Uken Report, “Our Real Estate team is always evaluating new sites. While we have looked at opportunities in Rancho Mirage, we are still in the very, very early stages of that process.  It would be extremely premature to speculate when or even if we will open a restaurant there.”

Cathedral City leaders have long tried to attract In-N-Out Burger to open a restaurant in their community, the second largest in the Coachella Valley.

“The good news is that if In-N-Out Burger locates in Rancho Mirage, that does not mean Cathedral City is out,” Stone James, director of economic development for Cathedral City told Uken Report. “A ‘yes’ to Rancho Mirage is not a ‘no’ for Cathedral City.”

James said efforts are still underway to get an In-N-Out opened in the western portion of the city.

“I’ve done everything I can to help with that,” James said.

A Rancho Mirage restaurant would likely pull customers from Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. A Cathedral City restaurant would likely draw its customers from Cathedral City and Palm Springs.

The In-N-Out Burger chain is currently headquartered in Irvine and has expanded outside Southern California into the rest of California, as well as into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Oregon.