In-N-Out in Berkeley a hoax: Will there ever be an In-N-Out in Berkeley?

UPDATE 2: Here's a link to a petition to bring In-N-Out to Berkeley, with already over a thousand signatures! Thanks to Matthew Breuckmann for sending that link over.

UPDATE: We're removing the question mark from the title. Sorry peeps.

Confirmed: In-N-Out rep confirms that the Telegraph banner is not theirs and they have no current plans to open a store in Berkeley.

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 28, 2014

It started with a photo that gave hope to a hungry people.

Coming soon! #InandOutTelegraph pic.twitter.com/IuoAvTP6Fs

— Cal Ticket Office (@CalAthletix) April 28, 2014

We followed up to see if there was any fire to go along with that smoke.

Hoax? We chatted with an In-N-Out customer support representative, and she says there is no confirmed Berkeley site for this summer.

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 28, 2014

The In-N-Out rep also stated that the banner being used is not typical of a company banner for a pre-release. pic.twitter.com/OYVPfLMF29

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 28, 2014

As you can see, Cal fans are pretty despondent about the possibility of a hoax, but there could be reason to hope.

@GoldenBlogs They played this game in Dallas too...denied the rumors until the end. #keephopealive

— Jeff Ogar (@jeffogar) April 28, 2014

Not. Cool. MT "@GoldenBlogs: In-N-Out rep also stated banner used is not typical of company banner for pre-release. pic.twitter.com/hk87JoRLR1"

— Addy Bear (@THEADMIRAL6) April 28, 2014

WHAT?!? NO!! MT "@GoldenBlogs: Hoax? We chatted with an In-N-Out customer support rep, she says no confirmed Berkeley site for this summer."

— Addy Bear (@THEADMIRAL6) April 28, 2014

.@GoldenBlogs AW HELL NO this is the worst Monday ever

— Dan (@dmoneyfor3) April 28, 2014

In-N-Out in Berkeley has been a cause espoused by many a Californian in modern times. Currently, if you want a double-double with animal style fries, you have to trek eleven miles up I-80 to Pinole. We rank last among the California schools in distance to the nearest In-N-Out, which I'm sure has been a potent recruiting tool used against us on the trail the last few years. Mike Riley probably gets his Beavers more In-N-Out burgers on road trips than our Golden Bears have gotten to experience over the past decade.

Obviously, there are serious impediments to In-N-Out coming to Berkeley. There's the Berkeley-based law firm that filed a suit alleging hiring discrimination policies. There's the generally business unfriendly environment, plus the high rents that In-N-Out would definitely have to be okay with for taking up the Telegraph property. And it's not like the Telegraph Avenue site is situated in an area that In-N-Out generally tackles anyway.

Cal fans, do you think there will ever be an In-N-Out in Berkeley? What is the best burger place in Berkeley? And is Five Guys really better than In-N-Out? Sound off on our 2014 burger debate.