Ridgefield limiting cars in drive-thru, altering local traffic laws as In-N-Out’s launch nears

Many Washington residents have long dreamed of having an In-N-Out Burger in Washington, and that day is approaching sooner and sooner, although an opening date for the Ridgefield location has not yet been finalized.

The excitement Washingtonians have expressed has already alarmed the City of Ridgefield. City leaders took to social media to express concerns that the burger chain’s planned opening at the Ridgefield Union Ridge Town Center will be snarled by long drive-thru lines that could potentially block public roads.

One of the city’s solutions is to limit the number of cars that can line up at the drive-thru, at least for the launch of the eatery.

“INOB will store all customer vehicle lines in designated private property areas, keeping traffic off public roads,” the City of Ridgefield stated. “If those staging areas become full and additional cars cannot be safely accommodated without impacting public roads, incoming customers will not be permitted to join the line and will be asked to return later.”

There are two routes between Pioneer Street and Union Ridge Town Center: North 56th Place and either North 53rd Place or Discovery Drive. If those areas become full, customers will not be allowed to join the drive-thru queue and will have to return at a later time.

Some of the local traffic laws being changed in Ridgefield include the addition of a designated right-turn lane from westbound Pioneer Street onto N. 56th Place for Union Ridge Town Center and Ridgefield Gateway traffic, and the temporary closure of the northbound exit of the 56th Place and Pioneer Street roundabout to streamline traffic in the roundabout.

In-N-Out superfan joins ‘The Jake and Spike Show’ after Ridgefield In-N-Out FB group reaches 18,000 members

Steve Mathis, one of the founding admins for the Facebook Group “In-N-Out Ridgefield, WA,” has been keeping “The Jake and Spike Show” up to date with the latest possible information.

The latest news? The store is allegedly aiming to open sometime before September, and employees are actively being trained.

“It’s going to open sometime in August?” Jake asked Mathis.

“Well, yeah, and actually, I think Fox 12 up in your neck of the woods said it’s going to open before September as well.”

“I mean, it’s Aug. 13 right now,” Jake added. “So that clock is ticking, it’s pretty close.”

Mathis joined the Facebook page tracking any and all updates of the Ridgefield In-N-Out location when it had fewer than 1,000 members. Now it’s up to 18,500 members.

“I think having the drone footage and the pictures does help increase the people desiring to know about it,” Mathis said. “But I mean, there’s been multiple radio and TV interviews where it has helped add quite a few people to the group.”

Mathis has been providing the group with weekly photos and videos from his drone as the city waits in anticipation.

“My whole desire is just that I have a love, and I have information, and I want to be able to share it with people,” Mathis said. “I don’t get anything out of it. I’m not employed by In-N-Out. It’s just something I do for fun to be able to help people.”

“Are you surprised by the intensity that people have?” Jake asked. “The desire for an In-N-Out up here?”

“I don’t know if surprise is the right word. It’s encouraging,” Mathis answered. “It’s fun to see it with the way that the company is run, from the beginning, where they put their foundation being quality, cleanliness, and friendliness. You can see it throughout the whole program; everything that they do. I mean, they have no heat lamps, they have no microwaves, they have no freezers. Fresh food. Everything’s fresh.”

Mathis revealed his go-to order is the double-double with animal fries, but he has a love for the animal-style burger and the four-by-four.

“Mine’s a double-double, original fries, pink lemonade,” Jake added. “That’s my dream meal every single time.”

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