IHOP opens in Flemington; another Wawa coming?
FLEMINGTON - Hunterdon County's first International House of Pancakes (IHOP) has opened just in time for National Pancake Day on Tuesday.
The IHOP, located in the former Perkins Pancake House next to the Hampton Inn at the intersection of Route 202 and Voorhees Corner Road, continues the recent trend of chain restaurants opening in the Flemington area.
Burger King is preparing to open on Route 202 in the former PNC Bank by the Flemington Mall.
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Wawa is appearing before the Raritan Township Planning Board at 7 p.m. Wednesday on an application to build a convenience store and gas station on southbound Route 202-31 at Raritan Avenue across the highway from a 7-Eleven in a strip mall.
The other Wawa in Flemington is at the intersection of Route 31 and Church Street, less than a mile from the proposed site
In the past year, a Buffalo Wild Wings, Roy Rogers and Chick-fil-A have opened within a few miles of the Flemngton Circle.
The new 5,581-square-foot IHOP will employ about 80 people.
“We selected Flemington because of it is an active community with a vibrant business network. The restaurant is in a visible location and conveniently located directly off Routes 202 and 31," said Sanjay Patel, president of Imperio Groups. "As business owners, we are committed to creating jobs and supporting the local communities."
Imperio Groups is a multi-state real estate and development company led by brothers Sanjay and Neal Patel, specializing in franchised restaurants, hospitality properties, commercial real estate, education services and international/domestic business consulting. The company's Restaurant Division operates nine restaurants led by Ed Auld, Don Ohl and James Cavagnaro and is expected to open six more this year.
Flemington is the company's fifth IHOP overall and second in New Jersey.
The restaurant and owners will celebrate IHOP's National Pancake Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, when guests can receive a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. Guests are encouraged to make a donation to reach IHOP's goal of raising $3.5 million nationally for the Children's Miracle Network.
Though the restaurant is open now, from Thursday, April 11, to Saturday, April 15, the restaurant will host a special grand opening week celebration. During this week there will be a series of daily fun family activities including a DJ, bounce house, face painting, balloon artist as well as all kids under 12 eating free from 4 to 10 p.m. The restaurant’s hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
The owners of IHOP Flemington invite everyone from Flemington, Raritan Township and around Hunterdon County to take part in the week and to attend an opening ceremony to be conducted from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 11. During the grand opening event the restaurant owners will welcome a Children’s Miracle Network child, who, along with local government officials and business leaders, will participate in a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. On 2 p.m. April 15, two fire companies from Flemington and Raritan Township will participate in the "Great Pancake Eating Relay Race."
IHOP, which is 58 years old, has 1,685 restaurants in 50 states and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, as well as Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and the Philippines.
Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com