Baldwin Park Doesn’t Relish Plan for ‘Hamburger’ Street

Virginia Avenue in Baldwin Park, home to the folks who gave the world the Double-Double and other drive-through delicacies, will not be rechristened “Hamburger Place.”

The City Council last week voted 3-2 to kill the request from In-N-Out Burgers Inc., whose corporate offices are on the avenue.

Council members Julia McNeil and Martin Gallegos disagreed with the majority.

“Disney made Anaheim. In-N-Out has made Baldwin Park,” McNeil said. “My kids grew up with In-N-Out Burger.”

In-N-Out Burgers Inc. was founded in Baldwin Park in 1948. It first proposed the new name for Virginia Avenue in June, 1989.

Susan Grear, In-N-Out director of marketing, said the change should be approved because “we’ve been a good corporate citizen. We’ve provided jobs and are an attractive part of the community. (The name change) will not cripple the other businesses.”

Brent Taylor, president of Award Metals Inc., also on Virginia Avenue, saw it differently. He presented the council with a petition signed by 53 other business owners objecting to the proposed change.

“To say we are upset is to say the least,” Taylor said.

“It is totally inappropriate and embarrassing. . . . People will snicker every time they see our address.”