Chadders Hamburger Joint: It was fun
In-N-Out is officially suing a Utah fast food restaurant. Some people teased me when I said I was sure In-N-Out knew about the rip-off chain located in American Fork, UT. KSL outlines that apparently some confused In-N-Out loyalists e-mailed In-N-Out Corporate, asking if they had opened up new store under a different name. To settle some of the rumors I have heard, In-N-Out didn’t actually secretly own Chadders, and Steve Martin isn’t Mormon.
Sure enough, In-N-Out apparently knew about it and has been building a case which has finally been served to the owners of Chadders. As too close of a rip off, Chadders has a “Trademark Infringement” lawsuit to fight now. I am not going to lie; they really did look a lot like In-N-Out, and the food was pretty close. When I asked for an Animal Style Hamburger, the employee told me to ask for a Stubby Style or something, but when my friend asked for it, the other teeny-bopper-bubble-gummer employee merely said, ’sure’.
Though the owner assured many people that he had done his homework with his lawyers before opening to the public, apparently even they might have missed something, or at least weren’t counting on In-N-Out corporate to be so aggressive. Personally I wish they could keep it open, and I hope the lawsuit doesn’t shut them down. It’s nice having a In-N-Out trademark-brand-ripping hamburger joint so close.
This lawsuit could take anywhere from 2 months to 2 years. Legally Chadder’s can operate that entire time until the ruling is given, with the possible ‘cease and desist’ which would have an accompanying date. So during that time, maybe we can eat there just a little more often until our desires overpower us enough to drive to St. George.
In-N-Out has not made anything official, but they are possibly going to make the smart move to build a commissary in Las Vegas. They won’t build an In-N-Out restaurant 500 miles away from a commissary apparently, so putting one in Vegas opens up quite a few more possible In-N-Out locations. That would at least open up Utah and Arizona to the restaurant chain (non-franchised chain that is). Which seems to be an obvious move if they want to push towards the east. I have no doubt that they would do extremely well in Utah, not just in St. George, but also in Provo, Draper, and West Jordan.
Here is the official address for Chaders Restaurant.
Chadders:
599 West Pacific Drive
American Fork, UT 84003
801-763-0770
Other Links for this Story:
Chadders Update: Post Lawsuit:
On 6-27-07, I went to lunch with a few of my co-workers to Chadders. They seem to want to work with In-N-Out and have made some changes around the restaurant. No more red strip on the tables, no more red boards around the windows (blue), all employee aprons are blue, and they have replaced the menu design both inside the store and in the drive through. It really does a good job of helping the store not appear as much as an In-N-Out. As you can see by some of the comments that have been made since the original post, there is a strong following of people wanting Chadders to remain open, and it’s pretty clear a lot of people are pretty confused about what the lawsuit is really about. Hopefully most rumors will be settled soon enough.
Seriously, I think that at some level it’s messed up to rip off in and out like that but then again they won’t open a store here and I wan’t my animal style dammit! I don’t care if I have to call it stubby style.
This is a funny case for Utah people that love in-and-out. On one hand we don’t want to see the restaurant we love ripped off but on the other hand if they succeed than we have to drive to Vegas for in-and-out relief!
Maybe next time they’ll try ripping off the service and speed of In-N-Out. Chadders is a really good burger joint, but holy slooooooow, Batman. If there’s any kind of a line, don’t expect your burger for 20 minutes or more.
[…] So our buddy Jon found some more information on Chadder’s ties to In-n-Out (or lack thereof). Interesting stuffs… […]
i don’t want to call anything “stubby style”! but i would have to agree. i thought it was in and out. the fries even taste the same! oh and dan. road trips to vegas are ALWAYS fun!
[…] The blog AREALLYGOODNAME has more to say on the matter. […]
It’s a cheap wannabe, not a perfect copy. Their buns suck. I wasn’t even done with my burger (after waiting 15 minutes to get it), and the bun was a soggy disgusting mess so I couldn’t even finish it. Plus, their fries have WAY more grease on them than In-N-Out fries.
In my opinion, not worth the drive to A.F. from Provo.
Paintjunkie about anything: “I JUST DON’T GET IT! WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE BUY xxxxx?!? IT’S SO LAME! I HATE EVERYTHING AND YOU SHOULD TOO!!!”
I’m fine with Chadder’s, but only because In ‘N Out won’t open a store here. As far as I’m concerned, In ‘N Out has all but officially said that Utah is not their market - they can’t sue people in China for making In ‘N Out clones, and I say they can’t sue people in the U.S. who aren’t in there own dumb self-imposed market.
What In ‘N Out SHOULD do, is just open one of their stores right across the street from Chadder’s. That would make EVERYONE happy - except the Chadder’s owner who will go out of business. But I mean, come on, take one for the team.
Good idea…. I like it. . . I like it cause it’s real.
I’m am annoyed with/hateful/bitter towards just about everything. This is no secret and I will not deny this. But I don’t think everyone else should be ______. I just spout my opinions off, what you choose to do is up to you.
NOT!!! The burgers tast nothing like In-N-Out! Remember where is the beef? That’s what it was like. I do give them the fries, but what makes an In-N-Out burger is the spread! Fry sauce does not cut it! You can’t immitate In-N-Out, its just not possible. Until then, I will drive all the way to Las Vegas just to have a burger and shake because it is the best!
The Californian
The 411 on In-N-Out is that they have committed to opening a joint in Saint George in early 2008. They keep their chains within a 500 mile radius of the Baldwin Park commisary.
The InO lawsuit against Chadder’s is a load of crap. Read the court documents.
I can understand why In-N-out is upset. I love going there anytime I pass through Vegas or go to CA. The funny thing is, the whole issue with coming up makes me want to try out Chadders food to see if it does taste the same. They will get my business and all the other In-N-out lovers. If In-N-out starts to produce more business closer in Utah I will take my business there. I will always love In-N-out but for those who are from CA. and move to Utah we are missing out and now we might have a place will help that desire of not having to drive to Vegas.
I agree. I think Chadders is an excellent second option for now until (if) In-N-Out moves this way. I have taken my business there, and if I wasn’t going to Sacramento this weekend, I would be eating there for lunch today.
As I mentioned, my friend did ask for an In-N-Out trademarked food product and actually got it with out a “we don’t serve that” which is why In-N-Out is suing. Poor guys. Possibly though, and this is speculation, but Chadders is getting SO much exposure right now, and business is still really good, that the owner won’t really be hurt that much, even if the court finds in favor of In-N-Out.
If he gets a ‘cease and desist’, he might be able to afford a second knock off joint, “Stubbies”, this time better prepping his employees and learning how to avoid In-N-Out even more.
Then when people say “This is such an in-and-out rip off!” the Stubbies employees can respond “In and out? No no, we’re ripping off Chadders, DUH”
I hope they get shut down and quick in order to teach Mr. Stubbs a lesson. I hope they also get sued for just everything they made in opening up a store that was successful *only* because it was a blatant ripoff of In-N-Out. Someone try to deny that they weren’t trying to copy In-N-Out as *closely* as possible without stepping on legal toes and that their amazing success (name another completely brand new chain that’s seen the traffic they have… do it…. I dare you…) is all because of said ripoff.
If they get away with a cease and desist, I’ll be ticked and the court system would be encouraging trademark infringement in my mind. Down with Chadder’s!
i cant belive that some of you want to keep chadders open, have you been to a in-n-out? do you know that the beef that INO uses the best in the world, they debone it in house and send it to all 200 stores fresh every other day. the bun is 100% sponge dough with no preservitives. all the produce is the best that INO pays top $ for even before the grocers buy theirs (look at your tomato next time) the foucs is on quality no if ands buts about it! The people that work there treat every customer like family always with a smile! The reason that they are not in utah is because the want to do it all right on making sure they can take care of each customer. also the have to bring all the produce to each store every other day but there is no 500 mile mark. so next time your at INO remember that its the best burger it the world and its not right to have customers think the crap at chadders is even close!
IN N OUT is the best!. I think they are going to win the lawsuit if it gets to court. It’s funny how you would think a new burger chain would stand up for what they stand for and dispute their quality to IN N OUT, and Uniforms as their own, yet since the lawsuit they have changed as much as they could as fast as they could, and they are no longer honoring animal or protein orders as they once did when they opened. To me if your gonna knock off a great establishment like INO you better have the quality and customer service to back it up unlike chedders or chatties or what ever that all ready forgettable name is…….
[…] I’m not taking the day off today! I laboriously climbed a massive mountain on my pedal bike, cooled off while wake boarding at the local the lake, and then feed my face at the highly controversial burger joint. (Yeah, I felt okay about it - after all, I exercised!) No, I didnt wear any white shoes today. Really, who made up the rule that you can only wear white shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Daybor — I read something about a Canadian delivering…. a….budget, or something…speaking of Canadians, if you want to find some classic, classy Canadian shoes - I know one Canadian who wears these ReeBoks. Yes, I really do. Reebok, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? I think thats the reason why this shoe has been in circulation for 35 years - or on the shelves for that long. […]
i work for in n out and i think its bull crap that stupid chadders tried ripping us off, no one will ever be as good as in n out so really why try?
SHAME ON CHADDERS theyre a bunch of copyright infringing douche bags!
You know what i worked at Chadders and it is a wounderfull place…no one is trying to rip anyome off i mean for god sakes have you people ever heard of Crown Burger and Apolo Burger…same shit different day…just because they are alike doesnt mean they are the same…The owner moved from cali and wanted his “animal style dammit”…so he did the only thing he could he opend a resterant all his own…and what is so wrong about wraping a burger in lettece and calling a beef adn leaf he didnt call it the protine burger and they dont even use the same sauce or anything…if you want to get right down to it every burger joint is ripping someone off…crown burger wraps there burgers just like Chadders and you see them thowing a bitch fit…so all i have let to say is to in adn out…get over yourselfs…i love Chadders and hope they never close!!!
Candace,
There is a lot of anger in this comment. Did you have a rough childhood? I am sure your mother loves you. I could hardly read the comment with so many misspellings and typo’s.
I liked Chadders when they first opened up. I am not saying they are horrible- or shut them down etc. I don’t get In-N-out very often, so it’s nice to have something close to it in the area. Way to go Chadders owner. I appreciate it. You have my money from many lunches.(but i hated how me and my coworkers clothes started stinking just from walking in the restaurant)
I am sure Chadders was a great place to work- and no one really wants them to shut down. BUT (getting over ourselves as you recommended) my friends and I DID go to Chadders earlier this year- and old Stubbs forgot to tell his employees that it was illegal to acknowledge a wrong order from another restaurant which was a trademark signature meal. We ordered double double animals by name.. and got them. (did I mention that we recorded it for a friend who didn’t believe there was a knock off place in town and we wanted to show him?)
You are angry- you want Chadders to stay- and they probably will. I am not helping out In-n-out in anyway; none of us on this little blog post have control over the lawsuit. What happens- happens. They aren’t THAT good anyway- and you will likely find a better job that pays more attention to trademarks of other companies and your next hamburger joint job in trouble.
-areallygoodname.com
All of you who are ‘agreeing’ with Chadders are just pissed off cuz In N Out doesnt wanna move to Utah. Get over it. They dont HAVE to get into every single state. Its not like its their duty or a requirement. Its a California company… be happy there are even some in Arizona and Nevada. And its stupid how some of you are even saying that its not really a wannabe INO… cuz it obviously is!!! And thats wrong…
For the record, In n Out has officially broke ground on their Washington City, UT location at the site they purchased several years ago. The wait was because of them deciding to build a distrubution center in Las Vegas which is now complete and operating. Their Washington City location will open in early 2008.
I work for IN-N-OUT and my inside sources tell me that the guy who started chadders used to work at IN-N-OUT and stole some of the IN-N-OUT videos to train his new “associates” (IN-N-OUT doesn’t use the word employees.) That guy does deserve to get shut down because he made a replica and put the dumb name chadders on it. Now that he knows hes in deep trouble he wants to change things around by calling the burger a beef and leaf c’mon that sounds ridiculous. My sources also tell me that IN-N-OUT WILL be in UTAH and even if chadders does stay open IN-N-OUT is coming to blow you guys off the face of the earth.
These are interesting posts! Living in Denver, I hear the same rumors around a similar spin-off called Old School Burgers (www.oldschoolburgers.com). Lots of us ex-Californians frequent this small establishment that doesnt look anything like an In-N-Out, but tastes nearly identical. The urban legend continues!
I think some of the complaints about copying are pretty ridiculous. My reasoning? I’ve heard several stories that Chadders does not taste like In-N-Out, so why so angry? If their service and food doesn’t meet the expectations of the popular chain restaurant, than they aren’t competition. If that’s the case, what’s the big deal? However, I personally do believe, having eaten at both fast food joints before, that Chadders is pretty good. I can’t feel sorry for In-N-Out at all, because they aren’t in the vicinity. I want my In-N-Out style burgers, and if they aren’t going to give it to me, then yes, I am most definitely going to eat at Chadders. And as for the stories about what some of you do or do not know about Chad’s secret illegal dealings, I have to say that no sound minded person would believe it without actual evidence. So I’m sorry, but I don’t pretend to know anything about whether or not he stole employee videos from In-N-Out. It all comes down to whether or not you like the food, and for each person it is different. Enough is enough, Chadders is still open and doing well.