In-N-Out Burger at Morongo

In-N-Out comes to Morongo

By Debra GruszeckiEarth was getting pushed around Wednesday for construction of the nation’s first In-N-Out Burger on tribal lands.

The scene unfolded to the west of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Reservation along Interstate-10 in Cabazon.

The popular 1950′s styled restaurant is set to open in 2014. It will be within walking distance from the casino resort and the tribe’s Travel Center, a fueling station that’s equipped with competitively priced gasoline, diesel fuel and slot machines.

In-N-Out will join two other fast-service eateries, Ruby’s Diner and the A&W Restaurant. Hadley’s Date Garden is also located nearby.In-N-Out Coming To Morongo Indian Reservation, A First For Burger ChainIn a milestone for Southern California's beloved hamburger chain, In-N-Out will be opening its first ever location on tribal lands: the Morongo Indian Reservation.

The restaurant location, adjacent to the Morongo Casino off the 10 freeway in Cabazon, Calif., is set to open some time in 2014. The new restaurant is part of a larger development plan along the 10 freeway in the area on the way to the casino and outlets, reports Banning-Beaumont Patch.

“We are delighted that In-N-Out Burger has chosen the Morongo Indian Reservation as the home for its first restaurant ever on tribal land,” said Chairman Robert Martin of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in a press release. "Given the current economic environment, Morongo is happy to be developing a new project that will not only bring new business activity and jobs to our region but will also generate future economic development opportunities.”

Fast food workers make a median wage of just $8.94 an hour nationwide, which is why it may seem strange that the tribe is hailing the addition as an economic development opportunity.

But fans of In-N-Out know that the restaurant stands out not only for its freshly-made food, but also for the way it treats its employees. An In-N-Out employee starts at $10.50 per hour, significantly higher than California's minimum wage of $8 or federal minimum wage at $7.25. According to the company's site, even part-timers are eligible for flexible schedules, paid vacations, free meals and a 401K plan.Comment:  For more on Indians and restaurants, see Owners Plan to Franchise Tocabe and Mitsitam Wins DC Restaurant Award.