IHOP Changes Name To IHOb, Internet Goes Crazy

The mystery is solved. The "b" in "IHOb," the teased new name of the pancake house, stands for burgers, the company said Monday as it unveiled its brand new Ultimate Steakburgers. Don't worry, pancake lovers: "We're always going to be IHOP," company president Darren Rebelez during an appearance on "Fox & Friends."

"America loves burgers, and America loves IHOP, and we thought this was a fantastic combination to bring America's burgers to an iconic brand like IHOP," Rebelez said.

With a shift like that, changing the restaurant's name was the "best way to convince [customers] that we are as serious about our new line of Ultimate Steakburgers as we are about our pancakes," Brad Haley, the company's chief marketing officer, said in a press release.

"We've pancaked pancakes for 60 years now, so it's the perfect time to start burgerin' burgers, and we're kicking it off by flipping the 'p' in IHOP to 'b' for burgers."

So far, only IHOP's flagship operation has been rebranded as IHOb, Fox News reported. Others will have IHOb-themed elements inside, but will retain the original signage.

The restaurant chain said June 4 it was changing its name. It confirmed the "b" wasn't for breakfast, but otherwise left it to consumers' imagination. Some people thought it would reflect the popularity of bacon or a focus on pancakes with blueberries.

The restaurant chain is debuting seven types of steakburgers with the name change. The company hasn't said if the name change will be permanent.

The internet reacted swiftly to the announcement of the name change Monday morning.

Written by Beth Dalbey

Photo via IHOP/Twitter