San Francisco’s only In-N-Out Burger location, situated on Jefferson Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, experienced a brief shutdown by the Department of Public Health due to a dispute over the city’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The popular burger chain’s Jefferson Street establishment was ordered to cease operations last Thursday after health inspectors reported that employees were not consistently verifying the vaccination status of customers dining indoors.
The issue arose from San Francisco’s mandate requiring proof of vaccination for indoor dining in restaurants, a measure implemented to curb the spread of the virus in settings where mask removal is necessary for eating and drinking. According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, this regulation is crucial in public indoor environments where people gather and remove masks, increasing the risk of virus transmission.
In-N-Out, however, has voiced strong opposition to this mandate, asserting that they “refuse to become the vaccination police for any government.” In a statement released to ABC7 News, the company expressed disagreement with any governmental directive that compels private businesses to discriminate against customers based on vaccination status. They argue that such mandates constitute governmental overreach, deeming them intrusive, improper, and offensive.
Following the closure, the In-N-Out Burger Jefferson Street location reopened the next day, but with service limited to takeout only. This modification allows the restaurant to operate while adhering to the health order without requiring the verification of customer vaccination status for indoor dining.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health emphasized the necessity of vaccination verification for indoor dining, highlighting its role in protecting public health. They stated that vaccination is especially critical in indoor public spaces where individuals congregate and remove their masks, conditions that facilitate virus transmission. This is the core reason behind San Francisco’s requirement for vaccination proof for indoor dining establishments.
Furthermore, it was noted that another In-N-Out location in Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County, also faced citations for violating similar indoor dining health orders, indicating a broader issue with vaccine mandate compliance across different locations and jurisdictions. Fuddruckers in Concord was also mentioned to have been fined $250 for not checking for proof of vaccination, suggesting a wider enforcement of these health regulations in the region.
In-N-Out’s full statement regarding the San Francisco Jefferson Street closure underscores their stance: they believe in serving all customers and fostering a welcoming environment. They argue that it is unreasonable, invasive, and unsafe to expect their employees to act as enforcers of vaccination mandates by segregating customers based on their documentation. The company maintains its strong disagreement with any government mandate that forces private entities to discriminate against patrons, reiterating their view that this is an overreach of governmental power.
