Lubbock burger fans are not likely to get a Flying Dutchman any time soon, as In-N-Out confirmed to the A-J this week they are still out on the Hub City, with no immediate plans to enter the South Plains.

In 2016, Lubbock hoped to welcome a new contender to the hamburger restaurant game - In-N-Out. GRACO Real Estate Development announced that the chain, known for the Flying Dutchman and Animal Fries, would claim a spot in the West End Shopping Center.

Two years later, the land sold without a restaurant, and company officials said they weren't expanding to West Texas at that time. Their stance has not changed for 2023.

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"Slow and controlled growth has always been part of our strategy here at In-N-Out Burger, and for the near term, we will likely focus on our restaurant growth in our existing operating markets," said Mike Abbate, assistant vice president of real estate development for the company. "We know that Lubbock is a wonderful community, but we don’t have any immediate plans to open a store there at this time."

In the meantime, the nearest In-N-Out Burger locations for fans in Lubbock are about 300 miles away in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Other Texas cities with area locations include Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco.

Alana Edgin is a journalist covering Business News in Lubbock and the surrounding area. Send her a news tip at aedgin@lubbockonline.com. 

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: In-N-Out Burger is not coming to Lubbock, for now