IHOP is closing in Bloomington; new barbecue spot expected to fill the space

BLOOMINGTON - Bloomington's IHOP restaurant is set to close at the end of the month.

Employees at the breakfast and brunch chain located at 2109 E. Empire St. confirmed the closure Wednesday.

Another business, Smokin' Notes BBQ is expected to move into the space and open in September. This will be the second location for owners Nick and Anthony Riley, who also own a location at 400 Riverside Drive in East Peoria.

The barbecue restaurant offers ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken and more items that come smothered in its signature BBQ sauce, plus sides like baked beans, fried okra and macaroni and cheese.

The new business plans to keep the current staff as they make the transition, IHOP employees said.

------------

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 10:02 PM.