At Last — In-N-Out Burger Finally Commits to Opening in Houston in a Surprise Location: Massive New Mixed-Use Development Guarantees Itself Major Gourmet Burger Buzz

At first, it was all excitement. Burger lovers couldn’t believe it. In-N-Out was finally making its meaty way to Houston.

But after sixth months, then a year, it became clear Cali’s coveted burger chain wasn’t bringing the double-double to Houston on the double. Maybe it wasn’t bringing it at all.

And so, for the past year, rumblings of a Houston In-N-Out have been in one ear, out the other. It’s felt like one big tease, with the burger chain leasing land but no construction beginning on site or even in sight.

But now, In-N-Out is going all in. While In-N-Out Houston mania focused on the former Burger King space the company bought at 8373 Westheimer, In-N-Out was grilling something good up where many didn’t expect it.

The Bayou City’s very first, long-awaited In-N-Out is sailing into Stafford. And it’s calling a shuttered Texan tech center home. The former Texas Instruments office in Stafford is undergoing a transformation.

It’ll come out the other end as The Grid, a massive, 192-acre mixed-use development. The project sits at U.S. 59 between South Kirkwood Road and West Airport Boulevard.

Construction  has already begun on the complex — with its first stores slated to open in 2019.

In-N-Out will be in good — if nowhere near as hyped — company. There will be Dallas-based Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, Top Golf competitor Drive Shack, an Aloft hotel, a 380-unit apartment complex and Luma Grove food hall, with a spacious patio and beer garden. The Lawn will feature movie nights, art shows and live music.

Imagine the $500 million project all finished — 500,000 square feet of office space, 350,00 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 2,400 residential units, and hotels, health clubs and a luxury cinema.

The bevy of mid-century modern buildings that made up TI’s property are slated for a major revamp, courtesy of Dallas’ StreetLevel Investments. TBG and Gensler are working on the design, and CBRE will lease the office space.

All the retail, restaurants and entertainment venues will be tied together with jogging and bike trails, parks and public spaces. And the towering oak trees aren’t going anywhere.

But it’s no secret In-N-Out will be the main draw, serving up Animal Style fries with flair. It’s about time, too, with In-N-Outs already showing serious love across the Lone Star State. They’re sprawled out across Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.

The burger giant should prepare for welcome arms, and maybe even some shrugs. In-N-Out took its savory time, and now the Houston gourmet burger competition is fiercer than ever. We mean Shake Shack. We mean Hopdoddy.

But In-N-Out is armed with its not-so-secret menu. And now, its not-so-secret first Houston location. Finally.