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LOS ANGELES, Aug 6, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Esther Snyder, co-founder of the popular In-N-Out Burger chain in California and introducer of the drive-through window, has died at age 89.
The Los Angeles Times reported that neither the place nor the cause of death was announced.
Snyder and her late husband, Harry Snyder, opened the first In-N-Out Burger stand in Baldwin Park, Calif. In 1948. Although similar ideas at the time grew to become giants like McDonald's and Carl's Jr., In-N-Out preferred to keep business small and the Snyders were said to be more committed to their customers and workers, the Times said. Even today, the franchise only has 202 stores in three states: California, Nevada and Arizona.
Capitalizing on the popular post-war trends of cars and fast food, the Snyder's introduced the first drive-through window to the fast food industry, and the new service would later be taken on by larger fast food chains.
Born in Illinois, Snyder attended college in the Midwest and during World War II served in the WAVES, the women's branch of the Navy.
"She was an inspiration for all the associates at In-N-Out and for all the people in the community whose lives she touched over the years," Lynsi Martinez, her granddaughter and sole heir, said in a statement.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
