Why Shake Shack Opened at Dodger Stadium Instead of In-N-Out Burger

LA Times sportswriter Bill Shaikin spills some insight as to why Shake Shack, and not In-N-Out, opened at Dodger Stadium. The NYC-based burger chain is much more likely to open in places like ballparks, airports, and busy central business districts, while In-N-Out traditionally never opens these kinds of locations, mostly due to issues of quality control, sponsorships, and the desire to keep prices consistent across all locations. Shaikin writes that In-N-Out doesn’t even pursue opportunities inside stadiums and ballparks because of the high costs and intricacies of sponsorship deals.

An In-N-Out rep stated that the burger chain, owned privately, prefers to do local school or community sponsorships where they’re located, which makes sense for anyone who might see their In-N-Out trucks roving around LA/OC County neighborhoods and far-flung suburbs. It is a shame that the Dodgers and In-N-Out couldn’t come to some agreement to show Angelenos and visitors the best of LA’s burgers (though Shake Shack is pretty solid overall), but the Dodgers (and In-N-Out) belong in Los Angeles. Sorry, New Yorkers.

In other news:

• High-end sushi counter Nozawa Bar, tucked behind the Beverly Hills Sugarfish, is reopening in a very limited capacity. The very small room usually only fits 10 or so people, so the setup will now accommodate only two seatings per night, with between two and six people per seating. Reservations are available on Tock right now, with each seat costing $175.
• Bang Bang Noodles is popping up at Culver City’s Citizens Public Market this weekend from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday to Sunday.
• Popular Taiwanese boba spot Tiger Sugar, known for its brown sugar milk tea and Instagram-grabbing plastic cups, is opening in Koreatown at Chapman Plaza on May 22. The chain, which has locations across the U.S., only has one local spot in Rowland Heights at the moment, so this more central outlet should be a huge hit.

• California guidelines still require masks to be worn indoors, though the CDC said yesterday that fully vaccinated people will no longer be required to wear masks indoors or outdoors. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things you have stopped doing because of the pandemic,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC. Local officials will determine if and when to lift California and LA County mask requirements, reports the LA Times.
• Crown and Hops gets a handy feature in the Times as well this week, telling the story of how Teo Hunter and Beny Ashburn are trying to build a Black-owned craft beer brand.