Smyrna’s planning commission has denied In-N-Out Burger’s preliminary site plan for a new restaurant at 999 Industrial Boulevard.
The Sept. 4 vote came after discussion and concerns that the proposed In-N-Out Burger did not meet Smyrna’s building design standards.
Planning commissioners said approving the site plan while waiving building requirements could be unfair to other businesses that have and will be required to meet architectural standards.
Traffic concerns were also discussed and would likely need to be addressed if In-N-Out brings back a new site plan.
In an emailed statement Sept. 8, In-N-Out said, “we don’t have any information to share on our proposed future location in Smyrna at this time.”
In-N-Out Burgers is the listed owner of the property at 999 Industrial Boulevard, according to the Rutherford County Register of Deeds office. The company bought the property for $5 million in August 2024, according to the Special Warranty Deed.
The site is currently home to Hickory Falls Wood-Fired Bar & Grill restaurant. The In-N-Out site plan indicates the business would be demolished to make way for the new restaurant.
In-N-Out, headquartered in Southern California, is expanding in Middle Tennessee with new restaurants in support of a new eastern territory operations center that will be based in Franklin.
Franklin, Lebanon, Antioch, Madison, Hendersonville and Murfreesboro are cities In-N-Out has moved forward on with plans to build new restaurants. The locations in Lebanon, Antioch and Murfreesboro are under construction and designated as “opening soon,” on In-N-Out’s website.
This is a developing story. The Tennessean will provide additional information as details become available.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why In-N-Out Burger site plan was denied by Smyrna planning
