It's confirmed: IHOP is coming to town

Plans for the old Pasta House building in Cape Girardeau are beginning to take shape -- in the form of a long-rumored IHOP

restaurant.

Neal Dahya, a controller for Apple Investor Group LLC, confirmed Tuesday the company's owners are planning to put an IHOP in the former Pasta House Co. building at 2046 William St. It is scheduled to open Oct. 1.

Dahya was responsible for contacting the city about the future IHOP, according to the Cape Girardeau city development office . He works with Applebee's, IHOP, Stevi B's and Burger King.

However, the city's plan review specialist confirmed no business licenses or permits are in place for the owner of the building, Pancake Holding LLC.

"[Pancake Holding LLC] can demolish and remove interior finishes without a permit, but they need building permits to put back new construction," Anna Kangas said.

Pancake Holding LLC is a client of National Registered Agents Inc., a company that provides businesses across the U.S. and around the world with corporate, secured transactions and public record filing and retrieval services.

Its goal is to ensure a company's registered agent services are met in a timely, efficient and professional manner, according to its website.

Dahya said the manager of the IHOP project is Anand "Andy" Patel, principal owner of Apple Investors Group.

Apple Investors Group has worked with DineEquity, IHOP's parent company, on other occasions. According to National Restaurant News, DineEquity has sold more than 17 corporate Applebee's restaurants to Patel's company since 2011. Through its subsidiaries, DineEquity franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP brands, National Restaurant News reported.

Patel also is principal owner of a multibrand franchise operation that includes 18 IHOP locations, four Stevi B's restaurants and two hotels in Florida.

Patel could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The former Pasta House closed in May after being there for four years. The Pasta House originated in West Park Mall in the 1980s and moved to the William Street site in January 2010.

smaue@semissourian.com

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