FLEMING ISLAND – The IHOP on East West Parkway may be part of a national chain, but local diners and employees bring a local feel to the classic American breakfast chain.

Some customers eat Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner there. Others dine daily. Some locals even eat there twice a day.

Tasty, hot food cooked fresh to order is great anywhere, and customer service goes a long way, too. But after speaking with regulars that frequent the facility, it’s easy to understand the magnetic force that attracts hungry people daily.

That’s because the establishment has a true family feel to it.

Eileen Kinley has worked at the location for four years as a server and certified trainer.

She works alongside her two sons, Adam Villa and Zeke Villa, and with her daughter-in-law, Alesha Villa.

“It works out really well,” she said, working alongside three members of her tight-knit family and staff.

That mindset shifts from staff to customers when patrons enter the building.

“We’re just laughing, joking. It’s family, you know. We just want to get to know the person and make sure that they are comfortable with us,” Kinley said.

“We’re one big family,” she said.

Staff loves to joke with lighthearted Adam and Zeeke when mom’s not around. They will come up with one-liners like, “‘Mom’s not here, so you’re going to have to pick up your own dishes,’” Kinley said.

Mom believes establishing a homey family environment is especially important in today’s society.

“It is very important, because customers will keep coming back, and they have fun. It’s just everything that we do, we just keep that going. We don’t change, because we love everybody that walks through that door,” she said.

The staff remembers customers’ names and favorite orders by heart.

Abigail Cisneros has only been a hostess for a few months, but the effect is already rubbing off on her.

“I know them by name, I know their stories, and I talk to them all the time. It feels like I know them outside of IHOP,” she said.

When Cisneros started her shift at the establishment, she immediately developed a deep connection with server Jordan Clark and general manager Alyssa Fronea.

“I see them as family. Alyssa is there for advice. I got into a breakup recently and I told her why. ‘(Alyssa) said, I don’t recommend hanging out with people like that. She gives great advice that is not work-related.’”

The reason for this is simple. “I think it is mostly because I opened myself up to them, and they opened up to me,” Cisneros said.

The crew celebrated New Year’s Eve and the Super Bowl together. They do many other things off the clock. The staff also hosts birthday parties, holiday potluck dinners and other occasions for customers.

“The food is good, the company is good, and everybody that works here is great as can be,” said Patti Dittmer, who has been a customer for more than two years.

Fronea worked up from server to general manager for five years.

“This is literally my home. I probably spend more time here than I do at my house. I have to make it comfortable for everybody that walks through that door. We greet everyone with a smile and make them feel welcome. Everybody that walks through that door is part of my family,” she said.

The manager has helped establish that culture during her time as the general manager.

“I kind of had it rough when I was a server, so I took that into perspective. Our manager was very hard on us verbally, so I tried to create something better because you can’t run a restaurant off of something like that,” Fronea said.

The atmosphere established by the staff rubs off on customers in ways previously thought improbable.

“I don’t want to get my stove fixed. I’d rather come here. We get hugs from everybody. That’s something I look forward to more than the food,” Dittmer said.

Two members of the staff, Toni Moore and Anthony Sales, do such a great job that they are sent to other locations in Northeastern Florida to help run the show at other locations.

“They’re all great people, they really are. We love them all because we sit where we want, we always get our food with no problem, and it’s a nice place. I have a broken stove at home and I won’t fix it, so it’s a good excuse to always come here,” Dittmer said.