Demolition starts at Poplar and Estate Drive as early work begins for East Memphis In-N-Out

Work begins at long-vacant corner slated for a new restaurant

Demolition and early site-preparation activity has begun at 5341 Poplar Ave., at the intersection of Poplar Avenue and Estate Drive in East Memphis, marking the first visible step toward a proposed In-N-Out Burger restaurant on the property.

The site has functioned in recent years as a convenience store and fuel station and has included additional commercial structures on the parcel. With clearing now underway, the property is moving into the pre-development phase that typically precedes grading, utility work, and vertical construction.

What the current permits indicate about the planned building

Public permitting records associated with the proposal describe a free-standing restaurant project at the Poplar Avenue address. The plans call for a roughly 3,886-square-foot building, along with approximately 1,100 square feet of covered patio seating. Those figures signal a format consistent with In-N-Out’s smaller-footprint dining rooms paired with high vehicle throughput.

Because the site fronts one of East Memphis’ most heavily traveled commercial corridors, the project’s design and construction sequencing are expected to center on driveway access, internal circulation, and the staging of construction equipment and materials without fully disrupting Poplar Avenue traffic.

Why demolition matters in the timeline

For projects of this type, demolition is not simply a cosmetic milestone. It is often a prerequisite for a chain of technical steps that can include:

• utility disconnects and relocations, including water, gas, power, and telecommunications;
• environmental review and any required remediation typical of former fuel-station properties;
• grading, stormwater management, and foundational preparation;
• finalization of construction drawings tied to field conditions discovered after structures are removed.

Until those steps are completed and additional construction permits are approved, an opening date generally cannot be set with precision.

How the Memphis project fits In-N-Out’s Tennessee expansion

The East Memphis proposal comes as In-N-Out advances a broader push into Tennessee. The company has been developing a Tennessee-based corporate presence and building multiple locations in the Nashville-area market as its first wave of stores in the eastern United States. Construction progress and permitting activity across Middle Tennessee have signaled that the brand is moving from planning into execution in the state.

What comes next

In the near term, additional on-site activity is expected to include clearing remaining improvements, preparing the pad, and completing site utilities. The pace of construction will depend on inspections, traffic and access requirements, and any conditions that emerge during site work.

For nearby residents and drivers, the most immediate impacts are likely to be short-term changes in construction traffic and intermittent lane or driveway adjustments tied to equipment movement and utility work.

Once demolition and pre-development work are complete, the project will be positioned to move into foundation and building construction, the stage at which restaurant timelines typically become more predictable.