A IHOP is opening at 21-61 31st St. next month (Photo: Christina Santucci)
June 1, 2021 By Christina Santucci
An IHOP is coming to the Ditmars section of Astoria next month.
The franchise owner, Daniel Chun, said Tuesday that he expects to open the eatery within five to six weeks. The location, at 21-61 31st St., was previously California Farmer’s Market, which closed at the end of 2018.
Chun said that he has begun hiring for an estimated 80 positions at the restaurant. A table outside the eatery Tuesday morning had application forms for those looking for jobs.
“It’s a big store, a lot of opportunities, a lot of jobs for the community,” said the eatery’s district manager, Dakari Suarez. “We are looking for a lot of good people.”
Once staff are hired, training takes about two weeks, so Chun hopes the IHOP will open by mid-July.
“That is the plan,” he said, as workers put the finishing touches on the interior. The decoration on the exterior also appeared near completion.
IHOP – which stands for International House of Pancakes – is known primarily for pancakes and breakfast items, but also serves lunch and dinner as well.
Chun said he thought Astoria was a good spot for his newest franchise.
“It’s a nice neighborhood. It looks like downtown here,” he said. The location is near the intersection of 31st Street and Ditmars Boulevard.
Chun said he owns a total of 20 lHOPs, including ones in Long Island, Staten Island, Philadelphia and Jamaica, Queens.
He purchased his first one in 1999 in Valley Stream. A press release in 2014 touted the opening of his fourth franchise in Westbury. By 2019, he was up to nine locations and with plans for another two already in the works, the Staten Island Advance reported.
A IHOP is opening at 21-61 31st St. next month (Photo: Christina Santucci)
