IHOP is mysteriously changing its name
What would the International House of Pancakes be without the pancakes? That’s what everyone is wondering as the restaurant chain casually dropped a bombshell on social media on June 4.
Now, don’t worry. The restaurant best known for its delicious stacks of fluffy pancakes isn’t flipping them off of their menu (pun intended). Instead, the announcement enticed the public about a mysterious name change coming up on June 11. IHOP’s tweet showed off the new name, which — on the surface — looks simple enough.
For 60 pancakin’ years, we’ve been IHOP. Now, we’re flippin’ our name to IHOb. Find out what it could b on 6.11.18. #IHOb pic.twitter.com/evSxKV3QmT
— IHOP (@IHOP) June 4, 2018
The tweet shows the “p” in IHOP flipping to a “b.” So, it looks like IHOP will be known as IHOB as of June 11.
But, why would a restaurant with a name ingrained into our culture make such a dramatic change? And why all the mystery?
Well, the mystery is has people whipped up like a pan of scrambled eggs, that’s for sure.
Some people believe the announcement is merely a publicity stunt to bring attention to the restaurant.
Do you realize how many millions of dollars it will cost to change IHOp to IHOb? This has to be a stunt. No way they really do it. #IHOP #IHOB pic.twitter.com/TfGtntZexN
— Mark Arum (@MarkArum) June 6, 2018
Other pancake lovers are flipping out at the mere possibility of the name change and refuse to accept it. One Twitter user even went so far as to compare it to other famous name changes that have met resistance over the years.
https://twitter.com/r21yna/status/1004347842838827008
An IHOP spokeswoman from corporate headquarters in Glendale, California promises this announcement is not a publicity stunt. So, the speculation has begun as to what IHOB could stand for.
For many, the obvious choice is International House of Breakfast. Because, IHOP is all about the breakfast food, right? But, does the restaurant really need an overhaul of its popular branding to focus on breakfast? But, maybe it could be International House of Bacon. And, why not? Bacon is incredibly yummy, too!
But, many just think it’s flipping crazy to make such a drastic change. Even ESPN analyst Syzmborski had to wonder where IHOP executives’ concern over their identity is coming from.
It's not like there's any IHOP brand confusion. Someone looking at IHOP and going "No, let's not go there, I want breakfast, not just pancakes" has happened exactly zero times in history.
— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) June 6, 2018
The debate will likely just be getting started even after the June 11 announcement. But, we can’t wait to see what it is.
What do you think about IHOP’s decision to drop pancakes from its name?
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