Harry Snyder

Harry Snyder
BornSeptember 9, 1913
DiedDecember 14, 1976(1976-12-14) (aged 63)
NationalityAmerican
Known forCo-founding In-N-Out Burger
SpouseEsther Snyder
ChildrenGuy Snyder
Rich Snyder

Harry Snyder (September 9, 1913 – December 14, 1976) was a Canadian-born businessman. He co-founded In-N-Out Burger along with his wife Esther Snyder. Snyder was one of the first people to develop the idea of a drive-through hamburger restaurant, where customers could order their food via an intercom.

Biography

Born in Vancouver, Snyder grew up in Seattle and Santa Monica. He would work odd jobs to support his family. During World War II, he worked several desk jobs for the U.S. Navy due to his perforated ear drum. After the war ended, he worked as a caterer in Fort Lawton where he met his wife Esther Johnson.[1]

Snyder and his wife opened the first IN-N-OUT Burger on October 22, 1948, in the Los Angeles suburb of Baldwin Park, California. In-N-Out is described as California's first drive-through. By the mid-1950s, the chain had expanded to six stores in the Los Angeles area. By the time of Snyder's death in 1976 from lung cancer, the company had expanded to 18 stores.[2]

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