Redesigned In-N-Out marquee approved

Gretchen Hoffman

In-N-Out Burger has cut the fat out of designs for a marquee sign

for a proposed downtown location, and in doing so obtained the OK

from Redevelopment Agency members who were concerned that the

original design would overwhelm Brand Boulevard.

The agency voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a sign variance

for the burger chain, eliminating what was feared to be a roadblock

in the burger chain’s proposed move to 119 S. Brand Blvd. The agency

on Aug. 13 sent the burger executives back to the drawing board to

come up with a smaller sign, but Raymond Villanueva, director of

development for In-N-Out, told the agency he was afraid executives

would change their minds about the Brand Boulevard site.

The new design, which at 99 square feet is about half that of the

original proposal of a 199-square-foot marquee, encountered no

opposition from agency members.

“In-N-Out and staff have worked out a good compromise,” Councilman

Bob Yousefian said. “I think this is something the community can

support.”

In-N-Out will relocate one tree that would otherwise block the

marquee sign.

In the past, city officials have denied businesses’ requests to

move trees from the front of their locations.

“We usually say no because it’s taking the tree out and disrupting

the orderly pattern,” said Jeanne Armstrong, director of development

services. “The trees in this particular block are not that orderly.”

Agency members added one condition to the approval of the sign

variance: that the high-traffic eatery be responsible for trash cans

outside the restaurant.