In-N-Out confirms first S.A. site





Now that we've finally got an In-N-Out, click ahead to see what else is on our restaurant and retail wish list. Did we miss something on your list? Leave a comment. It appears In-N-Out Burger finally has selected the site for its first restaurant in San Antonio. Architectural records filed with the state show In-N-Out plans to spend $1.5 million on a freestanding restaurant with a drive-thru at 10918 Culebra Road near Loop 1604.Now that we've finally got an In-N-Out, click ahead to see what else is on our restaurant and retail wish list. Did we miss something on your list? Leave a comment. less It appears In-N-Out Burger finally has selected the site for its first restaurant in San Antonio. Architectural records filed with the state show In-N-Out plans to spend $1.5 million on a freestanding ... more Photo: Bloomberg Photo: Bloomberg Image 1 of / 41 Caption Close In-N-Out confirms first S.A. site 1 / 41 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Burger fans in San Antonio may prefer sliced jalapeños with their Whataburger or a thick milkshake on the side of their steakburger from Steak 'n Shake.

But soon they can try the “not-so-secret menu” at In-N-Out Burger, which features a famous “animal style” burger with extra spread, grilled onions and a mustard-fried meat patty.

After months of speculation, the popular fast-food chain confirmed it selected a site on the far West Side for its first location in San Antonio.

“We really like the site and hope to be able to get it under construction in the not-too-distant future,” Carl Van Fleet, vice president of planning and development for In-N-Out, said in an email.

Architectural records filed with the state Wednesday show In-N-Out plans to spend $1.5 million on a freestanding restaurant with a drive-thru at 10918 Culebra Road near Loop 1604.

Construction should start in May and finish about November, according to the filing with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation.

Van Fleet, however, said he couldn't release an opening date.

“It is still a bit early in the process ... as we have yet to obtain building permits,” he added. “We should know more about our timing in a month or so.”

Since its Texas debut three years ago, In-N-Out has quickly expanded across the state. Its website currently lists 21 restaurants here, with a third Austin-area location opening soon in Cedar Park.

In January, the San Antonio Express-News reported a shell corporation tied to In-N-Out purchased a plot of land at Loop 410 and McCullough Avenue. And Windcrest officials in February confirmed that the Irvine, Calif.-based company would open shop at a site off Interstate 35 and Walzem Road.

Van Fleet did not answer questions about those locations, but previously he'd hinted that In-N-Out is pursuing “a few projects” in San Antonio.

“It is still a bit premature to comment on the timing of any of those projects,” he said.

When In-N-Out opens on Culebra Road, it will join a long list of fast-food chains populating that highly-trafficked intersection.

Del Taco, also from California, opened its first San Antonio restaurant there in September, and Steak 'n Shake welcomed long lines of customers in July when it opened for business nearby.

Bush's Chicken, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers also took over space in the area recently.

“The Culebra and 1604 area is really what I would call a hotbed of fast-food-type restaurants,” said Chuck Siegel, who specializes in retail as president of Rohde, Ottmers & Siegel Realty Services.

He highlighted the “tremendous” commercial and residential growth on the far West Side and expected to see long lines of cars waiting to sample In-N-Out on opening day.

“It's just a hub there for the West Side of town,” Siegel said, “and there couldn't be a better site, in my opinion, for (In-N-Out's) first restaurant. We've had a lot of people who moved here from the West and California and know who they are.”

Kim Gatley, senior vice president and director of research for REOC San Antonio, also said residential growth on the West Side probably factored into In-N-Out's decision to open near so many other fast-food chains.

“Another thing, just perspective-wise, that may play into it is the tremendous amount of employment that we see in Westover Hills,” Gatley said. “Many of those large campuses have their own internal cafeteria or food service.”

Nevertheless, she added, fast-food restaurants could benefit while sit-down restaurants would suffer.

For several months, the area's real estate and commercial development community has buzzed with rumors of In-N-Out's plans for San Antonio.

Siegel confirmed he heard the chain would open a cluster of restaurants here, as it has done in other Texas cities.

“They've looked at a lot of locations, and they're certainly not coming to town just building one,” he said.

nmorton@express-news.net

Twitter: @nealtmorton