A Bay Area restaurant group has snapped up the shuttered East Oakland In-N-Out Burger that became a symbol of the city’s public safety crisis, paying $1.8 million for a property the burger chain abandoned after years of robberies and car break-ins and what it called an “unsafe” environment for workers and customers.

Chandi Hospitality, a Santa Rosa-based company with a dozen restaurants across Northern California, purchased the one-acre site near the interchange of Interstate 880 and Hegenberger Road on March 20, according to public records.

The closure in 2024 drew national attention when In-N-Out Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick announced the decision despite the location being, in his own words, “busy and profitable.” It was also Oakland’s only In-N-Out.

“Despite repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies,” Warnick said at the time.

The news of the sale was first reported by The East Bay Times.

During the summer of 2023, the six-block Hegenberger corridor, stretching from Interstate 88- to the airport, saw 85 daily break-ins or robberies, though by the summer of 2024 that figure had decreased to 30, the Chronicle previously reported.

The area is a common target for thieves who would target visitors in rental cars coming to and from the airport. The proximity to the freeway also offers a quick getaway route.

Seven restaurants have closed in the area since 2022 – including a Denny’s, a Black Bear Diner and two Starbucks locations. A number of fast food joints still remain, including McDonald’s, Raising Cane’s, Taco Bell and Panda Express.

At the time, In-N-Out’s departure was seen as a symbol of Oakland’s struggle with rising crime during the Covid-19 pandemic. But a new restaurant opening at the shuttered site could signal that the city’s efforts to bring crime under control are restoring confidence to business owners. Oakland has increased the number of dedicated officers patrolling the area in cars, as well as officers on foot rounds.

It’s unclear what Chandi Hospitality might do with the real estate. On its website, Chandi describes its focus as “rehabbing beat-up restaurants” “joining new franchises” – but the company has yet to publicly announce what it plans to do with the location. The company’s portfolio includes Bollywood Bar and Clay Oven and Beer Baron in Santa Rosa, and multiple Mountain Mike’s Pizza locations. Chandi also holds an exclusive agreement to develop and operate Guy Fieri’s “Chicken Guy!” restaurants franchise across nine Northern California counties.

Chandi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article originally published at Crime-plagued Oakland In-N-Out site could see new life two years after the burger chain fled.