The IHOP currently located at 1313 Hillsborough Street is abandoning its old-school A-frame style building and upgrading to a retail space opening below the Stanhope apartment complex located at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Dixie Trail.
The Hillsborough Street IHOP was the first of the franchise to move to Raleigh back in the 1960s. Malika Duhart, the manager of the Hillsborough Street IHOP for more than 20 years, said that many of her regulars are sad to see the classic building go.
“Do you know how many people are just so sad?” Duhart said. “You wouldn’t believe it, they are just so upset. I’ve seen so many faces come and go, and they’re just like ‘oh my God no!’”
IHOP signed a 3,800-square-foot restaurant lease with Kane Realty, the developers behind the Stanhope apartment complex. The relocation is expected to take place in the January 2016, according to a recent article released by the News & Observer.
“I think that you can infer that the old location was just dated,” said Jeff Murison, executive director of Live It Up! On Hillsborough Street. “You also have to consider that this new location will be directly surrounded by 800+ students.”
IHOP is not the first retailer to commit to the Stanhope apartment complex. CVS will also be opening a pharmacy store once apartments become available to students in August.
Michael Richardson, a sophomore studying at William Peace University and a frequent customer of IHOP said that he would be hesitant about living above any restaurant.
“I have lots of friends at State and a few that have been looking into the Stanhope apartments,” said Richardson. “Believe me, I love IHOP, but if I were considering moving into the Stanhope apartments, I would probably rethink my decision.”
Richardson said that his biggest concern would be the smell.
“Stanhope is not a cheap place to live,” Richardson said. “Their building offers top-of-the-line student housing, and living there is definitely an investment. And after paying that much, I wouldn’t mind living above a CVS, but I would not want to come home to the smell of pancakes and bacon every single day.”
Duhart has also considered the possibility of the smell of maple syrup and other breakfast food making its way through the building.
“It sounds weird to me too, but I don’t know,” Duhart said. “I guess we’ll see.”
Murison said that he believes moving the IHOP about a mile and a half east of its current location will be a beneficial move for Hillsborough Street business and the student community.
“I think that a diner-style restaurant is something that almost every university gateway business corridor has,” said Murison. “I think that it’s an opportunity for [IHOP] to trade up, and I also think that it will quickly establish itself as a great place to get breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
As for the nearly 50-year-old restaurant building, a time frame has not yet been set for the building to be torn down, according to The News & Observer.
“I like this building,” said Richardson. “I know it’s cheesy, but the blue roof, vintage sign and overall decor make this place seem more like a diner. I feel like moving it under the Stanhope apartments will turn it into a place to go after a night of partying, which might be just what some people are looking for.”
