The James Island IHOP closed permanently after failing 11 consecutivehealth inspections with South Carolina’s lowest possible rating. After more than a decade serving Charleston’s Daniel Ellis Drive, the franchise voluntarily shuttered following a spectacular food safety meltdown that repeatedly earned “C” grades from state health officials.
The Violations That Killed a Breakfast Institution
Expired ingredients and dangerous temperatures turned syrup central into a health hazard.
The violations read like a food safety nightmare checklist. DHEC inspectors found:
- Expired tomatoes, ham, and mashed potatoes sitting in coolers well past safe dates
- Liquid eggs registered 58°F—a dangerous 17 degrees above the required 41°F maximum for cold storage
- Shredded lettuce bore no date labels whatsoever
- Pest evidence, confirming what diners had suspected
These weren’t minor infractions but fundamental failures of restaurant operation that accumulated month after month.
Community Relief Replaces Pancake Cravings
Residents expressed surprise the troubled location stayed open as long as it did.
Charleston’s food scene breathed a collective sigh of relief. “I’m honestly surprised IHOP James Island stayed in business that long!” one Facebook commenter noted, echoing widespread sentiment across social media platforms. Reddit users had been calling the location “nasty” for months before closure…