Danbury IHOP Will Be First In CT To Serve Wine & Beer

DANBURY, CT — The Danbury Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved a permit for a local International House of Pancakes to add alcohol to its menu.

Syed Raza, the owner of the IHOP Danbury on Newtown Road, successfully pitched the commissioners for his restaurant to become the first of the chain's locations in Connecticut to serve an assortment of beers and wines. Raza's franchise opened in October.

The decision came during a public hearing hosted by P&Z Tuesday night.

Acting Planning Director Jennifer Emminger said the location at 32 Newtown Road was no stranger to alcoholic beverages, having been the site of a long succession of full service restaurants, most recently Pizzeria Mazzo. As a result, the eatery's 142-seat count and parking accommodations were already up to code for a bar/restaurant.

The petition filed did not include the second floor of the building, which IHOP has not yet built out, Emminger said.

Raza told commissioners that his restaurant's hours would be staying the same, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and that the parent corporation was pushing franchisees to promote the dinner menu.

"So that's why they are coming up with the beer and wine program," he said.

An IHOP in Rhode Island is the only other franchise that offers alcohol, and that restaurant enjoyed a 20 to 25 percent sales boost as a result, Raza told the commissioners.

There will be no sit-down bar in the eatery. The drinks will be prepared at a service bar and servers will bring the alcoholic beverages to patrons at their table.

Currently, the Danbury IHOP is approved to serve beer and wine only. If Raza wants to expand his drinks menu with a full liquor license, he will have to come before the commission a second time.