In-N-Out Burger proposes new restaurant near San Jose mega malls

SAN JOSE — In-N-Out Burger, one of the nation’s most popular restaurant chains, is proposing a fast-food dining establishment with a drive-through near San Jose’s two mega malls.

The burger joint would be located at 3150 and 3158 Stevens Creek Blvd. in San Jose, a short distance from Westfield Valley Fair and Santana Row, documents on file with city planners show.

The restaurant could potentially accommodate as many as 124 customers at a time on site, not counting people navigating the drive-through section, according to a very preliminary proposal for the project that was submitted to the city. The plans are being floated at City Hall to gauge the reaction of San Jose officials to the project.

“The proposed In-N-Out restaurant will be 3,860 square feet with indoor seating for 84 guests and outdoor seating for 40 guests,” according to the city planning documents.

The project would be built on two parcels near the corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Hanson Avenue. Combined, the parcels would total about 1.2 acres.

In-N-Out Burger and The Schoennauer Co., a consultant that is working with the restaurant company on the project, declined to comment about the proposal.

At present, the site is occupied by a Vitamin Shoppe store and a shuttered Arby’s fast-food restaurant.

The two existing buildings would be bulldozed to clear the way for the new In-N-Out Burger.

“Construction for the restaurant would be done in a single phase and take approximately six months, with a typical progression of construction activities,” the municipal files show.

The drive-through would be able to accommodate at least 29 vehicles at a time.

In-N-Out intends to deploy staffers, equipped with tablets, to the drive-through to take orders remotely during busy times. The restaurant uses this process to speed up meal and beverage requests.

The proposed In-N-Out is slated to operate at least two grills at all times. The restaurant would ramp up to three grills during especially busy periods to keep the orders from backing up.

Azzarello Family Partnership is the owner of both parcels where the development would occur. It’s not clear whether In-N-Out would buy the property or lease the new restaurant.

The proposed restaurant would sprout within a city planning district called Stevens Creek Urban Village.

The location raises a key issue that would be addressed in the preliminary round of the application, according to the planning documents: The existing urban village plan prohibits drive-through uses in this area.

The restaurant company is attempting to gauge the city’s view of options such as a possible exemption to the rule, a shift in the boundary of the urban village, or an amendment to the rule.

In-N-Out plans to operate the restaurant seven days a week and be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

“The restaurant will be staffed by approximately 10 to 12 associates per shift, with three shifts per day,” according to the planning proposal.