This article originally appeared on ZU News.
On Monday, In-n-Out Burger celebrated the grand opening of their newest franchise across the street from Azusa Pacific, located at 988 E Alosta Ave. The West Coast burger chain was packed on the first day and will continue to see steady traffic from the Azusa and Glendora communities.
Robert Hernandez, the general manager for this location, said the feedback from the community has been very encouraging.
“So far it’s been really really positive. We have a lot of fans for In-N-Out Burger,” Hernandez said. “We’ve had people coming from outside the area, leaving their regular stores from Ontario to Baldwin Park and El Monte, coming out to support us and be involved in the opening.”
Hernandez said the store will not only serve APU and Citrus College students, but will employ many as well.
“We support all of our people in the area … At In-N-Out Burger, we try to hire the best. Sometimes it happens to be a student from across the street,” Hernandez said. “We love that people want to get a job here and work their way through school. That’s something we’re really proud of.”
In addition to offering students a place to eat, Hernandez said he hopes the store’s lights will provide a safer walk for students returning from campus to the housing units on Alosta, including University Park, Alosta Place and Bowles.
Regional manager Robert Concepcion also worked the grand opening, saying he’s excited for the new location to serve the community as other locations have been for decades.
“It’s awesome to see that we have a location [in Azusa] that’s been here since the 60s, the one on Azusa Ave. Here we are in 2019 and the city allowed us to put another location here,” Concepcion said. “Families, city officials and even the mayor were here last night, just supporting us in this beautiful area. The support and love we’ve been given by everybody has been overwhelming.”
Although most students are home for the summer and won’t get a chance to visit the new In-N-Out Burger until August, many are already excited to have the restaurant across the street. Senior Christian ministries major Garrett Davis said he plans to eat there frequently when school starts again.
“Yes! Finally we get an In-N-Out right across from campus! You can bet I’ll be there with everyone else,” Davis said.
Nick Meyer, a senior business major, said he thinks the proximity will benefit students.
“It will be cool to have an In-N-Out so close-by. I know a lot of people who don’t have cars that would love to eat there,” Meyer said.
The new location will be open Sunday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and Friday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.