In-N-Out President Confirms New Mexico Opening Is Near

In-N-Out Burger President Lynsi Snyder said the chain's arrival in New Mexico will happen soon.

Snyder made the comment during a recent interview with actor Terry Crews. The conversation was posted on the company's website to celebrate the brand's 78 years of business. "New Mexico's been waiting for us, and it will be soon," Snyder said.

The fast-food chain first announced plans to expand into the state in 2023. That initial timeline targeted a 2027 debut. In-N-Out currently operates more than 400 locations across 10 states.

Permit filings uploaded to the Albuquerque Planning Department website show specific targets for the new sites. The documents indicate the chain aims to complete construction on its first New Mexico location by June 2027. This new filing follows three other permit applications In-N-Out submitted to the city during the summer of 2026.

The three proposed sites are in Albuquerque. Two are on the West Side. One is at 3811 Coors NW in Oxbow Center. The other is in the parking lot of Dillard's at Cottonwood Mall. The third site is located immediately west of the fire station on Gibson Boulevard.

Building permits for the Coors and Gibson locations have already been issued. The city also approved the site plan for the Cottonwood Mall location. Despite these approvals, no construction activity has begun at any of the three sites.

In late October, an In-N-Out spokesperson said that the chain had no updates to share regarding the start of construction. Matt Loevenguth, the chain's Director of Real Estate, said it typically takes about nine months to build and open a new restaurant.

With a target completion date of June 2027 for the Coors restaurant, the current timeline puts the project slightly behind schedule based on the standard nine-month construction period. Several people familiar with the developments told the Journal that In-N-Out intends to open the Coors and Gibson restaurants around the same time. This strategy is designed to disperse customer traffic.

Snyder said new locations often see long lines and people camping out when they open. "When we go to a new state or a new area. People are just, they're losing their minds, and they're so excited," she said. She described the company's growth strategy as slow and steady, noting that permits and city processes can slow expansion.

Snyder identified Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma as potential states for future growth. The chain recently opened a second corporate office and distribution center in Tennessee to support this expansion. She said the team evaluates real estate and demand, using a spreadsheet to track requests for new states.