The short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reports an IHOP in a small shopping center near Parada 18 in Santurce was open with employees working and customers dining on Thursday
- El Vocero reported that temporary closures of IHOP restaurants had begun as of Wednesday
- In the same Santurce center, the Pizza Hut displayed a temporary closure sign and the Taco Bell was not operating, according to Metro Puerto Rico
- Labor Secretary María del Pilar Vélez Casanova told reporters that about 500 affected employees have applied for unemployment benefits
One IHOP continues operating
Metro Puerto Rico reported that a visit on Thursday, Nov. 5, found an IHOP restaurant operating normally near Parada 18 in Santurce, with staff working and customers eating. The outlet is located in a small shopping center where a Pizza Hut displayed a sign announcing temporary closure and a Taco Bell was not offering service. Metro Puerto Rico reported
Workers told the outlet they had been informed the location recently renewed its contract, though the newspaper said it could not confirm that information with Encanto Restaurants management. The discovery comes as reports indicated closures of IHOP locations across Puerto Rico.
Also on PuertoRico.com: Santurce travel guide
Government response and unemployment claims
Economic Development and Trade Secretary Carlos Ríos Pierluisi confirmed on Wednesday that Encanto Restaurants had not notified the government about the IHOP closures, Metro Puerto Rico reported. The company also operates KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut locations affected by the crisis.
Labor Secretary María del Pilar Vélez Casanova reported on Thursday that around 500 employees affected by the closures have requested unemployment benefits. She said workers can file claims online at desempleo.trabajo.pr.gov even without a termination letter from their employer. The government also announced four job fairs in November to assist displaced workers, according to the same report.
Where the sources differ
Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero both cover the IHOP closures by Encanto Restaurants but differ in timing and specifics. El Vocero reported on Nov. 4 that temporary closures of IHOP restaurants had begun. Metro Puerto Rico's Nov. 5 article notes the closures are not uniform, highlighting one Santurce IHOP that remained fully open with customers while nearby Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations were closed. Both outlets report on the lack of prior notification to the government, but only Metro Puerto Rico provides the unemployment claims figure of around 500 and details from the Labor Department.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how many IHOP locations have closed versus how many remain open across Puerto Rico. They provide no information on the reasons for the closures, the financial situation of Encanto Restaurants, expected duration of the temporary shutdowns, or the total number of employees affected beyond the 500 who have already applied for benefits. Official comment from Encanto Restaurants is also absent.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Video: ¡Sorpresa! Hay IHOP abiertos en medio de los cierres de Encanto Restaurants
- Reporting Comienzan los cierres temporeros de los restaurantes IHOP
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico supplied the on-the-ground account of the open Santurce IHOP, the unemployment figure and Labor Department statements. El Vocero reported the start of temporary IHOP closures. The single-source details include the specific Santurce location status, the contract renewal claim from unnamed staff, and the exact number of unemployment applications.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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