Deal Reached On IHOP Properties

Verona Township Manager Joe Martin announced at Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting that an agreement has been reached between the owners of the two properties around the former IHOP.

“There is one owner,” Martin told the Council. He did not identify the parties to the deal, which includes both the site of the children’s toy store Learning Express and the IHOP. The restaurant has been closed for more than three years and the building has fallen into disrepair. Its parking lot has become an overflow lot for the Verona Inn across the street, despite the No Parking signs along the building.

Martin said the new owner is putting forth an “ambitious” plan for the site, but did not offer specifics. “An early step will be to take to take down the IHOP building,” he added. It’s an important step that we will all celebrate.”