HOULTON, Maine – The restaurant at the busy Irving Oil Big Stop travel plaza in Houlton off I-95 is closing on Sept. 17 to make way for an IHOP, according to an Irving Oil executive.
The IHOP franchise, owned by Great American Real Food Fast in Connecticut, is slated to move into the Big Stop restaurant location on Oct. 15, according to co-owner Andrew Ouimet.
They will be adding some new equipment and giving the interior the complete IHOP makeover with new booths, walls, tables and IHOP signage, he said.
This will be the only Maine IHOP north of Augusta and the Houlton restaurant will serve the complete IHOP menu, Ouimet said.
The Houlton Big Stop travel plaza remains open as the restaurant at this site prepares to transition to a new food offering, said Candice MacLean, Irving Oil spokeswoman in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The 24/7 travel plaza, located along the I-95 corridor, is the last stop before the international Canadian border.
“There is no interruption to all other services at this location, including fuel, convenience store operations, EV charging, as well as amenities for Professional Drivers,” MacLean said on Friday afternoon. “We look forward to continuing to serve our valued customers at this site as we have for the past 35 years.”
The Big Stop restaurant currently serves American diner foods including breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and late night, with favorites like french fries and gravy.
IHOP is noted for its pancakes, Belgian waffles, milkshakes, steakburgers and platters.
Ouimet said the Houlton location on I-95 is excellent.
“Tourism and the I-95 intersection was all part of our decision,” he said.
This story was updated to correct the spelling of Saint John, New Brunswick.
