I just wanted to make a post about how much I love In-N-Out...and how excited I am that they're opening one in Orem on the 19th.
I had heard news of the In-N-Out but I always felt like it was too far away. I didn't even know where they were building it. But last night I went on a date to go see a play at UVU, and as I was driving home I looked to my right and I saw a beautiful golden arrow: the beautiful arrow that says delicious taste at an affordable price is nearby...the beautiful golden arrow that says "you're home." I almost cried. I felt like I was instantly transported to California. I drove up to the restaurant to get the details. Unfortunately, I didn't see any information posted, but just being around the place, seeing the familiar architecture, the outdoor dining umbrellas, the stone cut tables...it felt so good.
I decided to break the place in so I took my date to the nearest drive through and we both got shakes. We then drove back to the In-N-Out and had our shakes under the familiar In-N-Out umbrellas. I can honestly claim for the rest of my life that I was one of the first two people to eat a shake at the In-N-Out in Orem. I don't know anyone else who can make that sort of claim about any In-N-Out. Normally people wait for the grand opening and everyone gets a shake at roughly the same time. But not this In-N-Out. From now on when people talk of this restaurant I can say "yeah, I was the first person to take a date there, I was the first person to have a shake there"...and any other variation of saying "neener neener neener I was there first." (Now, I realize that it wasn't an In-N-Out shake, but who cares? I still can make the claim and I plan on it.)
It was kinda funny, they had a security guard at the place that was watching it 24/7. When we went up to the tables he drove up to us and told us that we had to leave (I kinda figured we weren't supposed to be there cause the area was taped off). The man was kind of hard at first, but after I bore my testimony to him of how much I love In-N-Out...after I told him how I would never deface that beautiful building, after I told him what In-N-Out means to me, and what it represents from my childhood, he told us (almost teary eyed) that we could stay for as long as we wanted.
As we sat down to have our shakes some people drove up to see what was going on. At first I felt a little guilty cause I thought the people were coming to the In-N-Out because it looked like we were customers and the place was open. The security guard swooped on them to chase them away. However, they turned out to be the the In-N-Out employees sent to the area to open up the new location. They were excited to meet us and they invited us to the grand opening.
So, that's my In-N-Out story. I doubt I'll make it to the grand opening cause I hate big crowds...but I was there for the real grand opening. Cause when two people are brought together under the magic of that golden arrow to unhealthily consume exquisite tasting, but nevertheless body destroying calories... well, that's what In-N-Out is all about.
carefree
8 years ago
3 comments:
While I have been to In-N-Out several times and have never really enjoyed/appreciated it, I found this story deeply moving. I realize how happy you are that they are opening an In-N-Out in Orem, but it makes me sad (even though I don't like In-N-Out--I'll explain). One of my favorite memories as a child was taking trips across the country with my family and sampling the local cuisine. Nowadays, that kind of thing is almost impossible to do because every city has the same food.
When I was on BYU's Ballroom Dance Company, all of the other members used to get incredibly excited when we would take a trip to California because they all loved In-N-Out and couldn't wait to have their favorite In-N-Out burger and shake. Now, an In-N-Out will be in Orem, so it will no longer be special to the kids from Utah who don't have regular access to an In-N-Out, or to the California transplants who grew up having In-N-Out but now only have it once a year. Anyway, I'm glad you're excited about it and it's awesome that you were the first person to have a shake there, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on the matter.
I agree completely with Dan, and actually started to comment on it but then got distracted and he beat me to it. I would think that at least a small part of you would regret that In-n-Out is branching out of its native Southern California and sharing its beauty with others. I'm not sure if it's more like casting pearls before swine or an unfaithful wife. Either way it leaves me unsettled.
Ted, I've heard you say you don't like the idea of In-N-Out expanding. Your argument then was the same as it is now--and the same as Dan's.
I agree with both of you that it's nice to go home and have In-N-Out waiting for me, and I do love thinking about how good that first bite will be as I drive home...but to me going without In-N-Out just so I can appreciate it more is kinda silly. That's like avoiding someone you care about just so you can have a sweet reunion.
I say try to soak up as many good things in life as you can, do the things you want to (that aren't harmful (which In-N-Out may be)), be with the people you want to be with...life will restrict your happiness naturally, so why wish for unnecessary restrictions just so you can applaud their removal?
And regarding your annoyance at In-N-Out branching out to new places...I sorta see where you're coming from. But your analogy assumes that In-N-Out has some special loyalty to us. You're looking at In-N-Out opening up new locations as an unfaithful wife...while I'm thinking of it as the gospel being carried to new portions of the world that have never heard of the restoration.
In-N-Out is a wonderful thing. The world needs to experience it. I look forward to the day when children in Japan are scarfing down double doubles while a businessman in Russia is enjoying his french fries animal style.
That's a beautiful future we should all look forward to.
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