Posted on 08/06/2006 11:47:56 AM PDT by paulat
Matriarch of In-N-Out Burger dies at 86
Sun Aug 6, 2:40 AM ET
Esther L. Snyder, who with her husband founded the iconic West Coast restaurant chain In-N-Out Burger, died Friday. She was 86.
The family declined to release further details including the cause of death, said Bob Emmers of Sitrick and Company, which handles public relations for the chain.
Esther and Harry Snyder opened the first In-N-Out drive-through stand in Baldwin Park in 1948. In-N-Out now has 202 restaurants in California, Arizona and Nevada.
The Snyders' business plan was simple: Serve fresh burgers in a "two-way speaker" drive-through concept. While her husband ran the day-to-day operations, Snyder was in charge of the books and occasionally helped out in the kitchen by molding meat patties by hand and slicing tomatoes and onions.
"Mrs. Snyder showed us all how to be a great leader and businessperson," said Mark Taylor, In-N-Out vice president of operations, who will succeed Snyder as president. "She expected hard work from associates and in return she believed in rewarding them well and treating them as members of one family."
Snyder grew up in Sorento, Ill., and graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a zoology degree in 1947. She met her future husband while working as a manager in a Seattle restaurant.
The couple had two children, Guy and Rich, who ran the company at different times. When Harry Snyder died in 1976, Rich Snyder took charge of the burger chain. After Rich Snyder died in a 1993 plane crash, Guy Snyder led the company with his mother until his death six years later of an accidental drug overdose.
Snyder was reported to be in poor health according to a January lawsuit that accused Snyder's granddaughter of attempting to engineer a coup to force her out.
In-N-Out attorney Arnold Wensinger said the suit contained inaccuracies. It was settled in May, but the terms were not disclosed
I toast her with a Double Double, Fries and large Coke!
The best fast food burder there is!
I toast her with a Double Double, Fries and large Shake made with real dairy products!
Reporter: What did she die of?
Family member: She was 86 years old.
Reporter: What did she die of:
Family member : SHE WAS 86 YEARS OLD!
In Heaven / Out of the world.
I had no idea about the family history. Sad.
Grew up on In-n-Outs as a kid one in Puente had to be one or earlier ones. They took the order over the speaker, the guy who took your money did not write everything down. Great burgers certainly a part of the California of an earlier era.
As I recall they had like John 3:16 stamped on the bottom of thier drink glasses.
RIP Mrs Snyder
In Out Urge
I used to live in the Phoenix metro area. A few years before I moved this chain made it to our area. I went on opening day, as did hundreds of other people. It was the best fast food burger I've ever had. I'm not even sure it's fair to lump it in with the other fast food joints. It's to die for.
IIRC...they were very devout and treated their workers well.
Any FReepers out there work for them?
In & Out still has biblical references on their paper cups and wrappers. Regardless, the best fast food burger I ever had!
Part of the fun of eating an In and Out was calling my dad with a nanner nanner that I was eating one and he wasn't. After he died I moved back to Southern California, and just about cried my way through the burger - it tasted the same, but the fun was gone from it....maybe they'll bump into each other in heaven and dad can tell her personally just how many burgers and shakes he had through the years.
They also have 800-HIT-HOME on their burger sacks - an awesome help line for kids!
In-N-Out Burger is the only thing I like about the Left Coast.
Greedy granddaughter, advanced atherosclerosis, grief, or simple old age; any of those conditions could prove detrimental to ones health.
| Puente had to be one or earlier ones
|
John 10
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
I hate getting hamburgers from mcdonalds, burger king, carl junior, jack in the box,etc. I LOVE in-n-out and its the only place i'll actually get a burger.
Its a pity they dont expand further out into other parts of the US.
I remember that theater and used to go to that very In-n-Out.
Anyone remember The Donut Hole near LPH?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
Yep, all the later ones were in La Puente. Remember that theater made out of a quonset hut? My brother and I ran screaming out of there during Earth vs. The Flying Saucers.