WALLINGFORD - Douglas Goldner sits among the cartons, the contractors and the job applicants, and knows that when IHOP opens on Jan. 27, the place is going to be jumping.

"It's not something we can hide with all the people driving by," Goldner said."We're really excited to be a part of the Meriden-Wallingford community."

This is the third IHOP for Goldner and his father Neal, who operate other restaurants in Orange and North Haven.

Douglas Neal Restaurants LLC was told about the opportunity, and liked the traffic numbers and accessibility from the highways. The partnership built the new restaurant on the same strip of North Colony Road that has welcomed a Lowe's Home Improvement Center, a BJ's Warehouse Club and an Applebee's restaurant in recent years. IHOP shares a roadway with BJ's and there is a People's Bank drive-through on the same site. Parking is spacious, with overflow capacity at BJ's.

IHOP is an acronym for International House of Pancakes, which adopted the initials in the 1970s. IHOP is a subsidiary of DineEquity Inc. of Glendale, Calif., which also owns Applebee's. The company is publicly traded and reported $484 million in 2007 sales, according to Hoovers.com.

Neal Goldner is a certified public accountant who left corporate life for other opportunities. His father-in-law at the time, a Burger King franchisee, steered him away from burgers and fries, and Goldner chose IHOP.

Douglas Goldner was a graduate school student studying political science when he decided to leave college and enter business. Their first IHOP opened in Hamden in 1993; a second opened in Orange in 2000. Father and son hope to find more development opportunities once the Wallingford restaurant gets going.

In a sign of the times, more than 500 people have applied for about 100 jobs. The Goldners plan to hire managers, servers, hostesses, busboys, cooks and dishwashers. The applicants have a wide range of experience, from a phlebotomist to a paralegal, some of whom have been laid off, some who want to move into a better-paying job.

"They've come from all over," Douglas Goldner said. "Most are from the Wallingford-Meriden area."

The new restaurant seats 188, and is larger than the Goldners' two other restaurants.

"It's kind of exciting and scary at the same time," Douglas Goldner said.

But there is a fun factor with an IHOP, Goldner said, and they look for people who enjoy serving customers and working for the restaurant.

The Hamden and Orange restaurants are active in their communities, supporting sports teams and other activities. Douglas Goldner sits on the board of directors of New Haven Home Recovery, a women and children's advocacy program that helps women get job training and housing assistance.

"We have an unlimited opportunity to provide a ton of jobs and use local services," Douglas Goldner said. "We are a good alternative to other restaurants and offer great value, great food and great service. A family of four can eat here for $30.

Although IHOP is known primarily for breakfast, it also serves lunch, dinner and "healthy choice" selections any time, night or day. It also has a full takeout service.

Robin Wilson, president of the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce, said the business community welcomes IHOP, and is pleased they are adding a substantial number of jobs.

"We're very happy whenever anything goes into town," Wilson said. "The chain restaurants seem to be successful. Our hope is that they become involved in the chamber." We look forward to working with them in the future."

IHOP will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturdays.