Many Tucsonans today decided it was worth it to wait hours for a hamburger.
It has been two years since Tucson residents first got word they were getting an In-N-Out Burger. Today, the grill was fired up for the very first time.
Thousands of people have been showing up since this morning. Most of them waited hours in line.
It is grilled ground beef put between two buns, but many people say there is something different about these hamburgers.
Some Tucson residents like Peymen Amini gladly waited about an hour and a half for a meal.
“It’s In-N-Out, it’s not just a burger. You just have to be dedicated,” Amini said. “I cleared out my schedule today.”
From the back of the line it is supposed to take customers two hours to get their food, but two people Fox 11 News talked to today say they figured out a way to cut that time down to 20 minutes.
John Acosta said, “She was about 20 feet out of the drive-thru and we offered her to pay for her meal, to jump into her car, so we only waited about 20 minutes.”
After getting their food, they found out they were not the only ones looking to bypass the line.
Megan Mcleod said, “People were offering us money for our burgers.”
When Jerome Garrett showed up, he said he saw the line, heard about the waiting time, then changed his mind.
“I’m hungry, but I don’t think I can do two hours right now. I’m serious,” Garrett admitted.
Cars idling in the drive-thru snaked around the El Con Mall parking lot while In-N-Out service still had a two-hour wait.
The last time a fast food chain got his much attention was when Krispy Kreme Donuts opened its doors, just across the way from In-N-Out. Krispy Kreme quickly closed its doors after filing for bankruptcy.
Carol Showchat says she does not see that happening at In-N-Out.
Showchat said, “This is a lot healthier, it’s fresher ingredients for you so I think there’s no comparison.”
According to one of the store managers at In-N-Out, a second location is still supposed to open for business in Marana near Interstate-10 and Cortaro Road.
He says that location should be up and running in four to five months. Once in place, that should open an additional 25 to 30 jobs.