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NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

Released: November 11, 2008

Most Memorable IHOP Visit Winning Entries

In September, Womack Restaurants celebrated IHOP’s 50th Anniversary with the “It Happened At IHOP” Contest. Customers were invited to submit stories about their most memorable visit to IHOP. The winning essay (recipient of free breakfast at IHOP for a year), along with two that received honorable mention, show clearly that IHOP is more than a restaurant. Because of our wonderful employees and customers, it becomes a part of the family.

Grand Prize Winner of Free Breakfast for One Year!!!

On September 20th, 2004, our home burned and was a total loss. It was a most devastating experience for our family. We thank God our teenage daughter was rescued by a stranger seeing smoke and pounding on the door to see if anyone was inside.

When the firemen were finishing up, we went to check into a motel and to eat a very late supper at IHOP.

While we were eating and trying to figure out what we would do next, we were talking about the experience of the fire.

Another family, unknown to us, overheard our conversation and after they left our waitress told us they had paid our bill. We were overwhelmed by their generosity and even now telling this story I am crying. We felt we were alone with no home and then complete strangers helped us out.

Since then we have made a habit of eating at IHOP on Friday evenings. Many of the waitresses and even the manager, Andrew, greet us by name. The waitresses know what our usual order is and usually have my raspberry tea at the table when we get seated. I usually get the Colorado Omelet with pancakes and a side salad with honey mustard dressing. We love the food and the wonderful atmosphere.

Thank you!

Bob Ewert

Honorable Mention Story #1

About 39 years ago there was an IHOP on the east side of Richmond Indiana. We used to go there every Sat. morning because my 2 year old Brian loved the silver dollar pancakes and sausage. It was just tradition and we were so sad when the restaurant closed, especially Brian. Little boys expect nothing to change from week to week and so it was very hard explaining to him that IHOP was no longer in Richmond.

When Brian was 7 yrs. old we purchased tickets to Snoopy on Ice in Indianapolis, IN. To make things even more special, we found an IHOP in Indy the morning of the show. Brian was so excited he was jumping up and down at the door of the restaurant.

Brian ate so many pancakes I just don’t know how he held them all. I told him no more but he insisted that he had to have more because “he may never be able to go to an IHOP again”!

Brian ate 3 more pancakes and then he sat back in his chair, had a funny look on his face and at that moment, just like a fountain, pancakes shot straight across the table. Silverware dropped all around the room, there was total silence. The waitress was so nice, she brought over wet rags and cleaned up the mess, I cleaned up Brian.

We had to go shopping to buy Brian new clothes. By the time we go to Snoopy on Ice, there was 20 min. left of the show. We were so disappointed we had missed the show but guess what? Brian said it was all worth while; because he got to eat at IHOP again.

We had not eaten at IHOP since then, 32 years ago, until you opened the store in Richmond. Guess who your first customer must have been!! Brian, he is so happy you are back in town. He and his wife have 5 daughters who visit IHOP frequently and so do we. Thank you so much.

Honorable Mention Story #2

Our funniest visit at IHOP was on a Saturday morning in Anderson IN. When we arrived at IHOP there was a wait so I asked my daughter to put our name on the list. The hostess asked what our name was and my daughter replied “Hungry”. Everyone started laughing.

We had a great breakfast and as we were leaving the Manager asked “so what is your name now?”. She replied “Full”! People all around us once again broke out laughing. It was so much fun and really cheered everyone up!