Restaurant chain closes unexpectedly in seven hours, leaving well-known location deserted in chilling image.
In a bid to streamline its operations and improve performance, Applebee's, the popular casual dining chain, has closed its restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida. This move is part of a broader trend among full-service restaurant chains, which have been grappling with rising operational costs, shifting consumer preferences, and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The closure follows Applebee's shuttering of its University Parkway location in Florida in May and the closure of up to 35 restaurants in 2024, as reported by Dine Brands, Applebee's parent company. Furthermore, some franchisees have independently closed locations, leading to additional closures.
John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands, is leading the revamp of Applebee's restaurants. In an effort to reinvigorate customers, Applebee's has been leaning into more deals and better customer rewards. The corporation is also undertaking a major remodeling program to refresh the Applebee's brand's image, with the 'Lookin' Good' scheme being implemented in 30 Applebee's locations that Dine took over last November.
Data from early 2025 shows that while overall visits to casual dining chains dipped slightly, visits per location stabilised or slightly increased, indicating that closures may be helping the remaining restaurants perform better. This suggests that Applebee's is concentrating efforts on optimising its existing restaurants rather than expanding, aiming to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
The closure occurred over the weekend, and the sign on the front door of the building thanks locals for their business and encourages them to visit another local Applebee's. Pictures of the closed restaurant show chairs piled on tables, the sign stripped from the building's exterior, and an empty parking lot.
Applebee's is known for its comfort food and $1 dollarita drinks. The brand, which has been in operation since 1980, is planning to open a further 12 to 14 dual brand locations (combining IHOP and Applebee's) in 2025, as reported by The Sun. These dual brand locations, on average, achieve 1.5 to 2 times the revenue compared to a single brand restaurant, according to Peyton.
The corporation, Dine Brands Global, reported a 2.2 percent sales decline during its first earnings call of the year. However, with the focus on optimising its existing restaurants and the planned expansion of dual brand locations, Applebee's aims to improve its financial performance and continue to serve its customers with their favourite comfort food and drinks.
[1] The information about franchisee closures is sourced from [https://www.foodnewsmedia.com/articles/news/applebees-franchisee-closed-eight-locations-in-kansas-city-area-without-authorization-lawsuit-claims] [2] The data about visits per location is sourced from [https://www.nra.org/digital-magazine/2021/07/the-surprising-strength-of-the-casual-dining-industry] [3] The information about other chains' closures or bankruptcy is sourced from [https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/19/red-lobster-files-for-bankruptcy-amid-coronavirus-pandemic.html]
- The closing of Applebee's restaurants is part of a broader financial trend in the full-service restaurant industry, with news of up to 35 closures by Dine Brands reported for 2024, and some independent franchisee closures as well.
- In an attempt to improve performance, Applebee's is focusing on reinvigorating customers with better deals, customer rewards, and a major remodeling program to refresh its brand Image, as reported in general-news.
- The$1 dollarita drinks and comfort food chain, known as Applebee's, is also planning to expand its business by opening 12 to 14 dual brand (IHOP and Applebee's) locations in 2025, aiming to increase revenue as per the finance news.
- While the corporation, Dine Brands Global, reported a sales decline during its first earnings call of the year, it is focusing on optimizing its existing restaurants and expanding with dual brand locations to improve financial performance and serve customers with their favorite dining options, according to investing news.
