Aug. 22, 2018 By Tara Law
A longtime IHOP franchise on Northern Boulevard closed Monday.
The restaurant, located at 73-01 Northern Blvd, had a note in the window last night that read: “To our guests and employees: We are sad to say after many years of business in this community that this IHOP location has permanently closed.”
The franchise owner, Mr. Stax Inc., and the central IHOP company could not be reached for comment.
The Jackson Heights franchise, which was packed most weekends, offered classic American breakfasts, pancakes and burgers like all other IHOPs.
There are several IHOPs in Queens. The closest one to the Jackson Heights location is at 155-17 Northern Blvd. in Flushing.
IHOP was founded in California in 1958, and now boasts 1,650 locations in the United States and in other countries.
Note in the window at IHOP at 73-01 Northern Blvd.(QueensPost)
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80 Comments
That’s what happens when you hire incompetent managers that run Businesses to the ground ..
I am a life time resident of Jackson Heights. I was not a regular customer , but I liked having it as a landmark. The pancake House was the first structure on that Property. Growing up Northern Blvd was a bunch of empty lots. Before P.H. was Trampoline City. Fun place!
There is already a Boston market like a mile down the road.
Loved this place really sad to see it go. If it was because of the uniontrying to break it even worse. The staff was awesome and always greeted me when i went in. I hope they are all ok.
I became General Manager in 2012 and was basically forced to resign after a year. Everything was “we gotta get the union out” by the higher ups. The franchise itself only had one other store in NYC (Brooklyn) and salivated over being able to take away all the Union benefits the workers had labored for so they can maximize their profits and bonuses. This place made 57k per week on a BAD WEEK. They were still able to provide decent wages, health benefits, sick pay, holiday pay, birthday pay, and 2-4 weeks paid vacations based on seniority. The closure was purely political and to preserve morale for the rest of the franchise who did not enjoy such benefits. I had to fight for unemployment before going back to college because they changed my termination to “fired for misconduct.” Which was overruled and thrown out in court. I ended up winning my labor case. The previous GM embezzled. It wouldn’t surprise me if the current one either mismanaged or tried to ruin morale to lower profitability to use it as an excuse to get rid of the collective bargaining agreement. The place was a nightmare. Little did they know that my Assistant Manager was my COUSIN and would fill me in on exactly what was going on there. I feel for the worker’s like Claudia who’ve been there since 1987. I wish the workers the best of luck in their future endeavors. Mr. Stax, Inc., and upper management can rot in hell.
To be honest I found that in the last years of this IHOP location they treated white people like shit. If you spoke Spanish you had good service, if not, out of luck, amigo. This was not only my family’s experience, but the experience of more than one of our neighbors. We all stopped going and are happy to see it shuttered. Maybe non-racists will take over the location.
You are the one who sounds like a racist
It’s a sad situation if that’s what was going on. I guess now you’ve experienced what it’s like when Latinos and African Americans go to Caucasian establishments and how they treated. It’s not really nice is it?
But it isn’t right. And you can blame IHop or all it’s employees because it may have been just the waiter you got. Don’t feel good for the place being shit down, wonderful people lost their jobs, food money etc to care for their family’s. Good luck to you. What comes around goes around.
How can you say, “there are several Ihops in Queens” when there’s only one other Ihop in Queens?!?!?!
If you want another IHOP at this location,
call, or write directly to the IHOP president.
It is:
Mr. Darren M. Rebelez
President
IHOP
450 North Brand Blvd.
Glendale, California 91203
Phone: 818-240-6055
Please reopen this ihop location. Means a lot to most western queens residents.
There’s another on hillside
This is really sad after almost 20 years of working in this location it was constantly busy still trying to figure out why we close
So sad to see them close. I came to eat breakfast here as a child and have even brought my own children to enjoy. Feel sorry for the workers, some have been there for years. Can’t stand how the neighborhood is being ruined because hipsters now want to live in Queens because its trendy. They are driving up the rents, and not realizing that they are the problem. Look at Williamsburg, the rents are so high many businesses have had to close. Same will end up happening here. Watch out Bronx, they are coming for you next.
I hope there will be another ihop business likely close to our neighborhood. No even Denise is similar. It is so sad this location shutdown… the reason are unclear still
Unions build America !!.
Proud member of : I.B.E.W.
International
Brotherhood
Electrical
Workers
Good riddance, this IHOP had low standards and terrible service.
Build a gym on that property!
Yep this is really sad after almost 20 years of service at the this location it was constantly busy still trying to figure out why we close.
I agree…. The manager was stealing money. I had lunch there several times and personally witnessed him going in the till taking money out leaving the store and jumping in his car. They were always busy. The people were so nice. I’m going to miss my favs… Denise, Maryann, Janet.
No one was watching the pot. They were robbing them blind.
Wow, they were more corrupt than Michael Cohen!
Making assumptions with out knowing the facts…
Yep this is really sad after almost 20 years of working in this location it was constantly busy still trying to figure out why we close.
Oh, no! I was just there about a week ago! I love that place!
🙁
I am hoping for a Trader Joe’s, since there is a parking lot (though the “footprint” of a newly built TJ’s would probably take of some of the parking spots. It would take the pressure off the TJ’s on Metropolitan Avenue (which is always too crowded, especially the parking lot, which it shares with a Michael’s and a Staples) and would be a great addition to the neighborhood.
We are good with Mi Tierra supermarket. Don’t need no Traders Joe’s here. That would only bring the rent in this neighborhood more higher than it already is. I don’t need this to be another Brooklyn.
We need a TRUMP 2020 Keep America Great re-election office right there!
Or maybe a HOOTERS sports bar
How about a HOOTERS next to the re-election office
We need a Manafort’s Federal Crimes legal payment charity donation center
How sad I went there more times than I can count. I no longer live in New York, but I have great memories to look back on. I am sure I Hop will be missed as it was always pavked especially on weekends.
The end of an era. When my mom was deathly sick, before she passed, I would sometimes stop in there before or after visiting to have a coffee and some pancakes. After 9/11 I sat at a booth and overheard a family detailing how their out-town cousin barely escaped a fiery death through fortuitous timing. Memories, memories. Best wishes that the staff land on their feet.
Here comes another “boutique condo highrise”. Darn now where am I going to use my IHOP gift card
Midtown girl – Hi rise?? IHOP is directly under an active flight path. Think before you post.
All of Sunnyside and Woodside are under an active flight path. Planes skim the tops of The Big Six and Berkley Towers every 30 to 60 seconds! Heck, one can see the passengers of the plane watching from the windows of a two story house! Stand on the platform of the 7 train at 61st Street and Roosevelt for a real cheap thrill! Watch the planes, as scary entertainment as one waits for the 7! I also will miss IHOP with fond memories of years gone by.
Have you been to this neighborhood? There’s nothing “boutique” about East Elmhurst/Jackson Heights…it’s a working class, immigrant area with lots of houses and low-rise apartment buildings.
There is one on Hillside Ave. in Jamaica
What is always amusing is people thinking that whatever closes in going to be replaced with something better. The landlords will always sell to Real estate. Any commercial property negotiates a long term lease.
Put a target there !!
Maybe they could put a South Pole Store in its place.
This is very sad. Ihop can be spotted from far away by the buildings design. The staff worked hard and were wonderful with there customers. I feel like this location was a Jackson heights landmark that everyone patronized sometime in there life. It was great to see them reopen after the fire but sad to see them go. This is life and nothing last forever.
I agree!!!
A cashless automated Amazon Super Store, would be even better.:-)
Hale and Hearty soup would be great there.
Would be nice , but not happening. They only open up in places where there is a lot of foot traffic , by subway stations, and upper income such as parts of Manhattan.
This was one of the very
few iHops that was
Unionized
I first went to that
location in 1968
… had just moved
to Queens
Great waitstaff
After the fire
of 2014 ?, I thought
they’d be around
for years to come
Adios old friend
Richie V
The Rabid Activist
of Jackson Hts
This is a perfect example of how unions destroy businesses, and jobs
This was one of the very
few iHops that was
Unionized
I first went to that
location in 1968
… had just moved
to Queens
Great waitstaff
After the fire
of 2014 ?, I thought
they’d be around
for years to come
Adios old friend
Richie V
The Rabid Activist
of Jackson Hts
Boston Market , Dallas bbq, Shake Shack , would be good options
Or a Jack n’ The Box
I remember Jack in the Box being on the other side of Northern Blvd. from IHOP back in the 70’s.
Boston Market, Dallas BBQ? My god man aim higher. I’ll give you Shake Shack. Dallas BBQ is an affront to real BBQ and is not suitable to serve to anybody.
Panera Bread
Because there’s not enough coffee shops in Jackson Heights ???
Sad. They had great service here, very nice people who worked here. Lots of memories eating here with friends and family. For a franchise restaurant compared to Dennys nearby, this was 100 times better.
How sad. All those memories! We would all have breakfast here after our first holy communion. It was a tradition that went back to at least the 1960’s.,
They should put a Golden corral buffet restaurant it’s a must for this location. I hope they use the space wisely and not some corny business just saying.
ITA!
Damn, where will Msgr. McClancy students go to fight now?
yes, those students are unruly That’s what happens when you have an admin that thinks they are a bunch of angels and can’t deal with reality.
Watched quite a few in the parking lot there in the early 90s.
My original post was not a criticism of McClancy students. I remember the fights from the 80s myself. Two guys with a problem squared off and got over it. Rock the bus!
It was always fun to watch tough Mclancy students get beaten up by Jackson heights students from middle school.
I grew up four blocks away. That restaurant has been there at least 40 years, maybe longer. Still always packed with customers. Makes no sense. 🙁
Wait til you see who bought the building.
Darn! I’ll have to go the Flushing location now.
How very sad!! They were closed for a long time to renovate from a fire, they finally re-opened and now they are closing permanently……A nother landmark gone..
The reason was due to money laundering from the manager at this Ihop. Lots of shady business under the table but will be missed.
Wow, was Paul Manafort the manager?
Thats not true at all, it’s a union and corporation dsipute, they couldn’t agree on the new contrac so selfish Mr Stax rather to close IHOP than to give the employees what deserves…
Paul Manafort was the manager?!
SAD! AMERICA!
I used to play in that IHOP as a kid!! Marone!!
This is a prime location for a Starbucks, it will help fuel gentrification.
there’s already one about 6 blocks away.
This is Starbucks we’re talking about, 6 blocks is too far. . .
I hate that you’re right 🙁
Gentrification isn’t a good thing but ok.
I hope this a sarcastic comment and you are not one of THOSE people who are helping to fuel gentrification and destroy the fabric of our city. If you are, well then you should have nothing to say about a neighborhood staple that is closing. Also, you and your fellow brethren should all GO BACK TO OHIO, or whatever godforsaken Midwest state you have come from…..goddam Locusts
Its really not. With gentrification everything goes up. The people that live in those areas are forced to move somewhere else. It happened in Astoria, Queens. What fabric of the city? What does that even mean? Im actually from right around ihop so you might want to relax. So passive aggressive geez
Starbucks? Good coffee right on 37th ave and 79th. How about a normal place w variety of foods, not all meat and carcinogenic!