IHOP is one step closer to serving up stacks in Haines City, with fresh filings pointing to a spot along U.S. 27 near Bates Road. If the deal comes together, the restaurant would join a growing lineup of national names on a highway corridor that has been quietly turning into a commercial hot zone.
As reported by WhatNow, plan review paperwork submitted under the name Sunshine Restaurant Merger Sub, LLC lists 37051 U.S. 27 as the proposed address for a new IHOP. The filing identifies the franchisee tied to the IHOP network but does not spell out when construction might start or when doors could open.
Where It Would Be
The 37051 U.S. 27 address lines up with the Lowe’s Home Improvement store that already sits there, placing the potential IHOP site in the middle of a heavily traveled retail stretch. The Lowe’s listing shows the property on U.S. 27 just north of the Bates Road intersection.
Who’s Behind The Plans
Sunshine Restaurant Partners, a large Florida based IHOP franchisee, is named in the application and already operates dozens of IHOP locations around the state. Sunshine Restaurant Partners details its Florida portfolio on its website. WhatNow previously reported that the same operator filed plan review paperwork for a New Port Richey IHOP in September 2025, tied to an earlier submission for 7968 Little Road.
Menu, Timing And Local Impact
IHOP has been touting a wave of limited time offerings nationwide, including Chicken & Banana Pancakes and a Bold BBQ Pulled Pork Omelette, as it refreshes menus at new and existing locations. IHOP lists those dishes and other current promotions on its menu page.
A plan review filing is only an early procedural step. The Haines City proposal will still need local permitting, detailed site plans and city approvals before any construction can begin. Until permits are in hand, there is no firm timeline for when work might start, but the paperwork is a clear sign the franchisee is actively lining up sites in the region…