In-N-Out owner has ‘productive conversation’ with Florida Gov. DeSantis following vaccine mandate closures of locations

DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw said that Snyder-Ellingson and the DeSantis had a "productive conversation" on Monday about the possibility of the burger chain expanding to Florida, according to SFGate.

"Vaccination should be a personal choice to protect oneself from serious illness, not a mandatory condition of participating in society," Pushaw wrote in an email. "There is no reason for a fast food restaurant to be forced to require proof of vaccination from customers."

Pushaw noted though that one barrier to the chain coming to Florida is the fact that all their suppliers are based on the West Coast, with no In-N-Outs being located farther east than Texas.

"Florida also has some of the best farms and cattle ranches in the country, and the governor discussed this with the president of In-n-Out," Pushaw wrote. "If they can identify suppliers for all their ingredients here, which we believe is possible, In-N-Out could expand to Florida. Governor DeSantis is willing to help with this and would welcome this great company to Florida, the best state to do business."

Multiple In-N-Out locations have been closed after the chain refused to comply with local vaccine mandates required fort customers.

Following the temporary closure of a San Francisco location, chief legal and business officer Arnie Wensinger issued a statement slamming vaccine mandates, calling them a "clear governmental overreach and is intrusive, improper, and offensive."

"We refuse to become the vaccination police for any government," Wensinger continued. "It is unreasonable, invasive, and unsafe to force our restaurant associates to segregate customers into those who may be served and those who may not, whether based on the documentation they carry, or any other reason."