NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Bahamian entrepreneur says he has “aggressive” plans to introduce two additional IHOP restaurants to New Providence by the end of 2023, with the anchor slated to open next week.
Burton Rodgers, the IHOP franchise holder for the Bahamas and the Caribbean, said Eyewitness News that 120 jobs were created with the introduction of the first IHOP restaurant in the area, while adding, “My goal is to make sure everything is done right.
“Training is ongoing right now. Most staff are hired. We are confident that the entire management team has done a great job and will be ready to go on Tuesday. I think everyone has done an amazing job to get to this point,” Rodgers remarked.
“I’m really proud of them and all the time and effort they’ve put in over the past year to get this far. Everyone should be ready and I’m just happy for them and happy to deliver a product that Bahamians have fallen in love with over the past few years coming in and out of the United States and hopefully we deliver a great product.
He added: “I think we have around 120 people to start with. This number will increase rapidly. We also look at three areas; downtown, the west side of the island and the south side of the island. We are considering three more locations and would like to have two more locations completed by the end of the year. It sounds aggressive, but that’s our goal.
Rodgers said the introduction of three additional sites could increase IHOP’s employment numbers by 400 to 600 people. “The plan is to try to create as many job opportunities as possible,” he said.
Rodgers noted that IHOP will eventually offer 24-hour service, as he recognized the need to “solve problems first.”
“To open, we would not jump directly within 24 hours… I am a night owl. I usually eat after midnight. There are people who eat very early in the morning and a large part of our population is made up of shift workers who want a pleasant and comfortable environment to have a meal and we want to offer that to them, ”said Rodgers.
#IHOP #set #open #week #planned #year #Eye #Witness #News
