“Ongoing issues with crime” led In-N-Out, the fast food chain, to close its East Oakland restaurant two years ago. The burger purveyor claimed it was the first time in its history that it had shuttered a location.
But now, someone else is stepping in, betting on the location’s future potential.
A Santa Rosa-based hospitality company bought the location, according to public records filed last week. Chandi Development, LLC, a division of Chandi Hospitality, owns several restaurants in the North Bay, including Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Chicken Guy!, a fast-casual chain co-owned by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, Beer Baron and Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven.
According to Chandi Development’s website, the family-run company was founded by the Chandi brothers in 2007.
“For over a decade, Chandi Hospitality Group has specialized in transforming overlooked real estate into high-performing community assets,” the website reads. “What began with rehabilitating underperforming restaurant locations has evolved into a disciplined approach to property redevelopment, repositioning, and long-term value creation across Northern California.”
The sale was first reported by The Mercury News.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, between 2019 and through the early part of 2024, the Oakland Police Department received 1,335 reports of crimes in the vicinity of the In-N-Out.
The Oaklandside analyzed crime data from 2023 and found that commercial corridors near the Oakland airport have been attracting crime for years, a common trend around airports across the country.
In-N-Out bought the commercial site in 2004 for $1,725,000. The restaurant was built in 2005 and is 3,220 square feet. Chandi Development bought the property for $1,800,000, according to documents filed with the Alameda County Recorder’s Office.
The fast-casual burger chain served as one of a handful of eateries — including Panda Express — located close to the Oakland Airport, and right across the street from a Toyota dealership. Both the former In-N-Out and Panda Express are located behind the site of the former Walmart. The retailer’s Oakland location was among a list of 269 stores that shuttered in 2016 due to low financial performance.
Chandi Hospitality did not immediately respond to a request from The Oaklandside about its plans for the site.
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