Applebee’s & IHOP Closing 160 Locations This Year

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It appears that as many as 135 Applebee’s restaurants and 25 IHOP restaurants may close this year due to poor sales. The reason for the restaurant closures is due to a decline in sales for both Applebee’s and IHOP for the second quarter of 2017. At this time, it is not known which locations will be closing or when they are expected to close. However, the two restaurant chains will be opening 125 restaurants globally in new locations.


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Comments 48

  1. Jeff

    Apple bees closed a few years ago in my home town.

  2. Matt

    I’ve been to Applebee’s many times over the years, (against my will) and every time the food and service was awful. I guess others feel the same!

    • Casey

      Agreed.

    • Shelly

      Exactly.

  3. To

    I’m not a fan of chain restaurants. Is there a link showing what locations are closing?

    • Jess

      The article above specifically states that the ones closing are unknown at this time.

  4. Carol

    I got my birthday pancakes this morning, lol.

    • sann

      Was it pretty easy to do?

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      Happy Birthday! 😉

  5. Michelle

    One of the ihops near us just got remodeled… Applebee’s no matter what town or state the food and service are the terrible… It always seem strange that u see companies build a lot of locations only to close them later…

    • Ash

      That because the food is pretty packaged except grill items that are frozen. All the kitchen does is heat it up. It’s gross!

  6. Bryant

    I can’t stand all the think pieces being written of late about how millennials are killing these restaurant chains. We’re not. Applebee’s food and service has been awful for a very long time. Don’t blame us. lol.

  7. nelly

    Applebees food tastes microwaved and it’s ridiculously salty. Sorry.

    • Cara

      Was it necessary to say duh? That’s such a condescending thing to say to someone. Not everyone has worked in the restaurant industry and not everyone knows how the food is prepared or shipped.

      • Beb

        Cara: I am not in the restaurant industry and did not realize Applebees has a “food plant”. I was not offended by Ash. Actually, it was informative. Duh.

        • Cara

          Beb, oh look, how edgy you are on the internet, good for you? This site has definitely changed with the rudeness, trolling, and nasty attitudes.

    • Teri

      Weird, because I ordered chicken awhile back and cut into it and it was raw. I can’t even imagine what that would have done to me if it was shipped barely cooked. Bleh!!!!!!

  8. Lo

    We call it crap-ple bees. 😂 But I must admit I do like the fiesta lime chicken ( not an endorsement cuz it’s nasty but good at the same time lol) if I must be dragged there.

    • Amber

      I make a delicious fiesta lime chicken. My husband thinks it tastes better than Applesbees.

  9. momo

    I love IHOP but it’s too expensive to eat often especially for breakfast food.

    • Donj02

      Especially for side items. $3 for a chocolate milk, I could buy a gallon for that

  10. april

    A friend of mine started working at our local Applebees and on her first day of training, one of the waitresses told her that it’s okay to spit in the food if someone upset her. That was probably close to 8 years ago, maybe more, but I never ate there again. (I realize that isn’t a widespread thing with all Applebees of course! But it’s the first thing that comes to mind for me, so I’m just sharing my gross tale.)

    • beth pitt

      And you think this only happens at Applebee’s?

      • april

        No I never said I did??? This was just a story about Applebees since the article was about Applebees.

  11. A

    My sis used to work at an Applebee’s during college….I don’t eat there anymore 😬

  12. Annie

    both Applebees and IHOP in my town no matter what ALWAYS have a 1 hour or more wait. I never understand it. there is an amazing farm to table local 24 hour joint and you know the smart faces who know whats good there.

  13. Amanda

    I hope this means more people are eating local! I haven’t been to a chain restaurant in years. I have noticed in my area more local restaurants and food trucks are introduced frequently. I feel bad for the applebees and IHOP staff but hopefully they have a good skills and can find a new workplace that they are happy with and find one quickly.

  14. Holly

    They are actually opening an new IHOP in our town in a few months lol

  15. Laura

    Worked for a Applebee’s from 99 to 2015! Worst company ever! Treats there employees like crap! See ya Applebees!

  16. Amy

    I dislike Applebee’s. Now the new ihop they built is nice. The only thing about ihop is the store is 1 year old and looks like it is 15 years old. The food is great. Just the quality of building materials is poor.

  17. EJ

    All of them need to close. Yuck! There food is reheated frozen food.

    • Ashleah

      Exactly is. The plant is in TN and ships it all out pre cooked. It’s gross, they offered me a job as part of a culinary scholarship.

  18. Nina

    I don’t know how this has place lasted.. or others like it. Oh yea, the alcohol. Places like this usually survive off their sale of alcoholic beverages.

  19. Ms. Bailey

    I lived right around the corner from an Applebee’s for eight years and dined there once. Never was motivated to eat there. I heard in some areas only teenagers eat there. I ate there once during happy hour this year and the atmosphere was very strange. I must have sat patiently waiting for 15 mins before I realized you have to order from a kiosk at the table and pay using the same machine. Staff barely spoke & only bought my food to the table. Barely saw any workers as if the place was operated by robots. Are we being conditioned to get service from artificial intelligence in the near future?

    • Mia

      I’m sure you were still expected to tip 18% though.

      • Kelly

        😂😂

  20. Malinda Sanchez

    i have to say that the IHOP in my location has changed hands over the years and sometimes they are full and sometimes not. it seems they have trouble keeping good help. you go one time and the service is great go back and it isn’t. same with Applebees. my son refuses to go because of the service. maybe they need to think about employee benefits or pay to keep good help.

  21. Megan McClymonds

    All this means is they are shifting as the population shifts, as areas get rough or blighted in cities and the people move of course they will close restaurants in bad areas and open them in up and coming areas

  22. Steph

    Last time we went to Applebees the menu had been redone and my DH asked where was the riblet basket and they said they got rid of it. That was when they got rid of us also.

    • Bill

      Hate to sound uninformed: What’s a DH? Not a Designated Hitter I’m sure.

  23. MCouzens

    So many people, including myself, have gotten away from frequenting chain restaurants. We don’t eat out much as a family as it is so when we do go somewhere I want it to be kind of special and chain restaurants just don’t offer that.

  24. Mia

    I stopped eating out. Food is horrible quality in chain restaurants for what you get. It’s not consistent and the only reason is seems very tasty at times is the loads of MSG they put in all their food. But what bothers me the most is that you have to tip. No other civilized country forces customers to pay the waiters salaries. And what’s funny is that Americans think it’s normal and actually defend it. How about protest it instead? How about force the damn employers to pay their servers decent wages, like in other industries??? What if all other industries would start paying their workers $4 an hour and expect customers to tip every time. Why in the world do people think its normal?? Anyway, with $30-$50, what you spend at a restaurant for two you can get great quality food to cook at home: some grass-fed steaks, organic vegetables, a fresh salad (not those stale nasty things they call salad in most restaurants).

    • AnnieL.

      I’ve never understood why we were expected to financially support someone who brings you food to a table. That’s ridiculous to me. And servers will get testy if you don’t give them like half the price of your meal in tips. I completely agree with you. It needs to be fixed.

  25. cindy

    Young people in our area like half-apps at Applebee’s. Appetizers are 1/2 price from 10 or 11pm until close. Applebee’s in our area used to host trivia night which was a draw, too. Other than those promos, the menu/food aren’t a big draw.

    • Jen

      Half price apps 4 – 6 PM, my daughter and I meet up after work once a week and each get an appetizer and water. Leaving a $4 tip my bill is less than $15.

      I’m quite pleased, but clearly the minority here lol.

  26. AnnieL.

    I stopped eating at Applebee’s years ago, their sides are all greasy nasty ones. They have no home cooked nice sides. Ihops pancakes are delicious though.

  27. Julie

    I quit eating at Applebee’s when they decided to cut worker hours rather than offer them health insurance. Good riddance.

  28. JA

    I love Applebee’s spinach artichoke dip but the rest of the menu is meh. IHOP lost us after the first time we went. We were seated and then ignored. No one even took our drink order. And when we walked out and told them why, they didn’t even care.

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