Since their grand opening last year, the IHOP at 2951 Avenue U has gained a reputation for their generous community involvement, which was demonstrated once again at their one-year anniversary party on Thursday, July 18th.
“We would like to get to know our customers by name and make them feel a part of our IHOP family,” owners Victor and Elizabeth Artieda said when they first opened their restaurant (see “New IHOP on Avenue U, an American Success Story,” Canarsie Courier, October 26, 2023).
They held the lavish anniversary event as a way to show their appreciation for their customers who came in droves throughout the day.
True to their word, the Artiedas accomplished their goal by reaching out to the neighborhood through advertisements; community outreach to senior centers, places of employment, schools and nonprofits; social media; and through word-of-mouth.
Over the year, they held 14 monthly school and organization fundraisers generating over $5,000 for the community; donated over $600 worth of gift cards and mugs for fundraising raffles and events; gave out over $20,000 of discounts to seniors in a special half-price offer that ended in May; and continue to sponsor special discounts and deals for kids, seniors, veterans and others.
They also gave out flowers on Mother’s Day and gift bags to children during the holidays. Investing in their community has been a winning recipe for success and has come back to them with many expressions of thanks and even a certificate of appreciation presented to them by the Kings Plaza-Canarsie Kiwanis Club. IHOP plans on expanding these efforts in the coming year.
“I think that aside from us being here and generating life and employing people from the area, it’s just the thought that he’s giving to the area,” fundraising manager Danielle Altimirano said of the owner, Victor. “It’s like if he could open up his heart and give it all to you, he would.”
With over 60 employees, including eight from the Summer Youth Employment Program for the first time this summer, they added to the community network of family and friends invited to the celebration.
Altimirano was at the helm, coordinating the full day of activities planned from 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. in this family-owned and operated restaurant, which was festively decorated, as it is throughout the year. Staff greeted customers, gave each a raffle ticket to win a $25 gift certificate and IHOP mug, and invited them to meet the owners and take a kitchen tour.
Kids had fun decorating aprons and hats with colorful fabric markers and bling jewel decorations. There was also face painting, 200 goody bags, balloons and complimentary cake for all. Guests signed the large poster-sized anniversary card and filled out individual cards with heartwarming messages.
Park Slope area residents Andrew and Corazon Stachow spotted the IHOP on their way to Kings Plaza a few months ago. With no IHOP near them, they are now regulars who dine at the Avenue U location at least three times a week and said they are especially fond of their fried chicken and pancakes.
Elizabeth Artieda, who grew up in the neighborhood and attended nearby Good Shepherd Catholic Academy, met customers who came by from the school to celebrate the event.
Noreen Quinn, a board member at Good Shepherd, and sisters, Claire and Dorothy Reinertsen, who both attended Good Shepherd, reminisced and spoke about things they had in common.
“We loved it from the beginning and really appreciated a new business in the area – someplace to go any time of the day,” the Reinertsens said.
“Many customers have commented on the restaurant’s attractiveness, cleanliness, freshness of food, friendliness of staff and, of course, free parking,” Altimirano said, reflecting back over the year.
