My colleague Mary Chastain has reported on how the state of California has closed locations of the popular hamburger chain, In-N-Out, as its corporate headquarters refuses to implement policies that would force it to be “vaccine police” over its customers.
Politicians from the State of Florida have recently seized upon California’s many economic failures to persuade businesses to consider Sunshine State alternatives. For example, in the wake of the cargo ship traffic jam off California’s coast, Governor Ron DeSantis invited shippers to consider those in his state.
Now the state’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has pounced on another opportunity, said he’d be “honored” to help In-N-Out “find the perfect place to start a new In-N-Out story right here in Florida.”
Patronis, who says in the letter he’s “pro-vaccine but anti-mandate,” wrote he was “impressed” the company was opposing “government overreach.”He added that Gov. Ron DeSantis has “led our state forward without harsh lockdowns or mandates,” noting that DeSantis recently handed down a $3.5 million fine to the Leon County government for firing employees over vaccine requirements.Patronis says Florida’s business climate is “perfect,” highlighting “no personal income tax, low corporate taxes, an educated workforce and a fantastic quality of life.”
Patronis owns and operates Florida’s Captain Anderson Restaurant and Waterfront Market. In the letter to the president of In-N-Out Burger, he related his experience about the difficulties an overreaching government creates for a restaurateur.
“As a small business owner who grew up in a family-owned restaurant, I know how hard it is to make a profit on a good day, let alone when your own government is working to crush your business with overreaching mandates,” Patronis wrote to In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder…He then extolled Florida’s pro-business climate and how it loves business owners, entrepreneurs and employees. He offered to help Snyder explore relocating In-N-Out Burger to Florida.“As a member of the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors, the business development arm of the state, I’d be honored to introduce you to our team and help you find the perfect place to start a new In-N-Out story here in Florida,” he said.
I can attest to the fact that In-N-Out burgers are tasty. I am not the only one, and it appears that other states may battle Florida for the chain.
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