WICHITA — A year and a half after buying their first IHOP, the Issa brothers are ready to open their second one, this time in Emporia.
“We had an opportunity, and we took it,” says Ali, who is partners in the business with his brothers Ty and Mike.
They also own Larkspur, Ya Ya’s Eurobistro, Hereford House and Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge.
Their existing IHOP is at 515 S. Ridge Circle in west Wichita.
Their Emporia IHOP, which will open either Oct. 8 or 9, will be in the former Village Inn space at 2831 W. 18th Ave.
“We didn’t have a plan for Emporia,” Ali Issa says of locating there. “It just came up. … It was a good deal.”
He’s not sure where — or even if — they’ll open another IHOP.
“It’s hard to predict.”
Issa says he’ll spend the next month or two focusing on Emporia, although he says he’ll still continue to pop into Heat, which he also runs.
“Heat’s is doing very well,” he says.
Along with a loyal clientele, Issa says he has good employees to help him.
“We have some very good people (at) both places.”