I HOP Resturant

Sounds like it's a complete hit or miss with this place. The few times we have gone for breakfast things went smoothly, food was hot, service was good. Guess we were lucky.

Jumbie -STX

I do not understand the intense interest in IHOP on this board. There are at least three threads about it already. In the States, IHOP is a mediocre (sp?) chain at best. I am just curious why it generates so much discussion here.

I do not understand the intense interest in IHOP on this board. There are at least three threads about it already. In the States, IHOP is a mediocre (sp?) chain at best. I am just curious why it generates so much discussion here.

May be BC there aren't many places that serve a bunch of food at a fair price.
Out Ihop in STT was a godsend!
Then, (when the stateside team left) is quickly became what you are reading here(for the same reasons).

Anything new will get attention. (I was sorry to see the Ihop go in STT. It was nit a bad place are a reasonable price. (At least resonable in STT).

Billd

I do not understand the intense interest in IHOP on this board. There are at least three threads about it already. In the States, IHOP is a mediocre (sp?) chain at best. I am just curious why it generates so much discussion here.

1. New Restaurants sometimes get their own threads.

2. Some posters don't look to see if anyone else has posted a thread on the topic, they just create a new one.

3. Our moderator doesn't combine threads (which is what should happen, were it technically possible, and it is with some msg bd control panels).

At about the same time that Carol was at IHOP, the wife and I were getting breakfast at the K-Mart at Sunny Isle. It took less than 10 minutes to get two eggs, made to order, toast, hash browns, and bacon. They even substituted a pancake for my wife's toast at no charge. Everything was good except for the hash browns which are always not to my liking. The staff was friendly and the cost? $3.49 for each breakfast. It's the best kept secret on the island.

They also have wonderful local food for lunch!!!

Interesting that the best cheap breakfast is either KMart or the hospital cafeteria.

Hey you told the secret! I agree about Kmart cafe....I often go for breakfast and get the saltfish with okra and spinach and thick cut fry potatoes for like 4.99....great price and QUICK! I also enjoy their local food lunches...check the board as you walk in for daily specials....

I wouldn't say Ihops in the US are mediocre. In fact their food is good and very reasonably priced. I have never been to the one in St Croix and by the comments I don't think I will be going there anytime soon. My question is if the service is so bad how does it stay in existence?

I do not understand the intense interest in IHOP on this board. There are at least three threads about it already. In the States, IHOP is a mediocre (sp?) chain at best. I am just curious why it generates so much discussion here.

That is hysterical, as I was thinking the same thing...

Out of curiosity, since everyone mentions how expensive St. Thomas is, how much would a breakfast at IHOP run?

There is no IHOP on STT.

To my question: How much does a breakfast at IHOP cost in St Thomas?

There is no IHOP on STT.

Pardon me, St. Croix then. According to what I have read, I thought there was one in St. Thomas that has closed.

I think, in order to understand the intense interest, you have to appreciate living on a small island where change in scenery/places hardly happens. It was with anticipation, much like waiting for a mail wagon in a western town, that I drove by the ihop every day to work....the warm yellow interior walls taunting me with the hope of fresh pancakes while it was still under construction....then...one day... It opened! Like a mainland breeze... the recognizable , iconic sign lit the night sky.... They even had a Mr Pancake out there waving...So...yes...we're going to talk about the new event because we can.

How much does a breakfast at IHOP cost...?

From a 12/10/09 posting of mine on the "StX Restaurant Ratings" thread:
"We had a breakfast combo dish and 4 pancakes, which were $7.95 each, I think. The sodas were about $3, I think, with free refills."

How much does a breakfast at IHOP cost...?

From a 12/10/09 posting of mine on the "StX Restaurant Ratings" thread:
"We had a breakfast combo dish and 4 pancakes, which were $7.95 each, I think. The sodas were about $3, I think, with free refills."

That's reasonable. Thanks.

I will try to scour these blogs more before bombarding everyone with tons of questions 😉

STT I hop had similar prices(yes, we DID have a Ihop), it closed down due to(according to the owners) WAPA, rent & "service Issues".
The STT Ihop lasted just over a year.
I waited in the usual long lines to get in.
These long lines got shorter as service declined there.

I guess it should be called......I Ain't Hoppin for No One!!

I've yet to personally have a bad experience there. My friend had a horrible experience on a Sunday morning, I'd never go to an IHOP on a Sunday morning though...its where all the churchgoers go after mass (at least in the states). I've gone on a weekday morning for an ofifce meeting and had good service, late at night (after St. Patty's Day Parade), and twice for dinner with my family and have had very good experiences. I hope the bad service isn't a trend or the beginning of a major decline like what happened in STT. I will definitely post my next experience though when I go back.

Sean

I think spotty is the best description of the service at IHOP to date. However the franchisee lives on-island and seems anxious to make a go if it.

The former owner of the STT franchise lives on the island, owns the Subway franchises, & is a former senator (Allie-Allison Petrus).
The financial commitment is high to start this franchise alone.
If I were to participate in such an endeavor, I too would give it my best shot!
If the franchise owner is dedicated, hands on & isn't involved in other ventures, he/she should be able to overcome WAPA & even crappy employees(if crappy employees can be fired here which I've herd many nightmare stories to the contrary).

Which makes me think of a few questions(I really don't know, or have a clue, restaurant franchises are not my forte).

What IS the crappy employee situation here, can you fire someone if they just can't do the job satisfactory?
Do you owe the $$ to the SBA if the franchise fails due to useless workforce or "Service Issues" or other problems beyond one's control?
How many employees are required for EDC status, & do any restaurant franchises have EDC status here?

DUN, I was referring to the IHOP currently operating on STX.

OK Linda.
I guess I too was referring to the STX Ihop in this way...
The STT franchise owner ALSO lived on island.

What I've been trying to point out from the beginning, when word of a Ihop was to open on STX was how it was going to be DIFFERENT, so it doesn't repeat the fate of STT Ihop, so it succeeds.
I've been following the posts on STX Ihop & see the very same concerns.

If you always do what you always done, you'll always get what you always got!

I am not aware of any local restaraunts that are EDC beneficiaries.

EDC companies generally don't derive their revenue from the island. An EDC company is one that derives its revenue from abroad but does the work in the VI. The idea behind the EDC is not to give tax breaks to businesses that would exist on island anyway, instead its to attract businesses that would never have thought of setting up shop here to open up shop.

Of course there have been exceptions to this rule.

As for the ability to terminate problem workers, the difficulty in doing so is the number one reason why I wouldn't want to setup a business that employs others here. IMO it is the number one cause of service issues and poor productivity here in the USVI and has decimated the economy of these islands for many years. It is one of the root underlying causes of our problems in the territory but I doubt it will ever be addressed.

Sean