W. Hempstead IHOP scheduled to close May 30

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Two years ago, the IHOP restaurant on Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead was being threatened with closure because the chain’s corporate office would not renew the restaurant’s franchise agreement, according to news reports.

Now that IHOP is facing closure again, and this time it seems more definitive. “We’re going to close at the end of the month,” said Winston Javier, the restaurant’s manager. “…

[P]eople are upset about losing their jobs, and local people are upset about losing their restaurant.”

Asked why the store was closing, Javier and the restaurant’s owner, Bienvenida Javier, said that the corporation did not want to renew the franchise, but they offered no other details.

Stephanie Peterson, executive director of communications for IHOP, said the company could not comment because of pending litigation.

According to Rosalie Norton, president of the West Hempstead Community Support Association, Breslin Realty is the landlord of the property, which sits next to another Breslin property that has been vacant and deteriorating for nearly 10 years. “When the property closes,” said Norton, “it puts Breslin in a position where they have a broader area available to bring other businesses onto their property.”

Wilbur Breslin, president of Breslin Realty, said that negotiations with the IHOP corporation are under way. “They are negotiating for a new building, which I am willing to do,” Breslin said. “We haven’t reached a deal yet.” He added that negotiations may include the adjacent, vacant property.

“IHOP has been leasing that property for roughly 50 years,” Breslin said. “And the subtenant [Javier] has been there for nearly 25. They were doing very well there. I don’t know why they didn’t come to some kind of agreement.”