Operations

San Francisco In-N-Out closes temporarily over city vaccine mandate

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October 20, 2021

The only In-N-Out in San Francisco was shut down temporarily on Oct. 14 by the city's department of health for not checking guests' proof of vaccination under the city's COVID-19 health protocols, according to a report in The New York Times. In August, San Francisco mandated customers must show proof of vaccination before dining indoors.

"Vaccination is particularly important in a public indoor setting where groups of people are gathering and removing their masks, factors that make it easier for the virus to spread. That is why San Francisco requires proof of vaccination for indoor dining," the city's health department said in a statement.

The In-N-Out has since reopened, but for takeout only. The dining room remains closed.

Arnie Wensinger, In-N-Out's chief legal and business officer, said the store complied with protocols by posting signage to communicate the vaccine requirements, but city health officials said the chain's employees must "actively intervene by demanding proof of vaccination and photo identification" and "act as enforcement personnel by barring entry for any customers without the proper documentation."

In the statement, Wensinger said employees refused to become "the vaccination police for any government."