Applebee’s Closures and Dine Brands’ Dual-Brand Strategy
A number of Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar + Grill restaurants across the United States have recently closed as parent company Dine Brands Global Inc. Adjusts its business strategy amid rising operational costs. The closures have prompted questions about the impact on local markets, including the Daytona Beach area in Florida.
Applebee’s Closures: A Recent Trend
Founded in 1980 in Decatur, Georgia, Applebee’s operates over 1,500 locations globally [1]. Recent closures include franchised locations in Columbia, Missouri, and Evansville, Indiana, as well as a store in Upstate New York scheduled to close in April [1].
Florida Locations Affected
In Florida, the Ormond Beach Applebee’s, located at 150 N. Williamson Blvd., permanently closed on March 9, 2026 [1]. This followed the closure of the Daytona Beach location in 2025. Applebee’s continues to operate locations in Port Orange and Orange City, Florida [1]. Additional Florida closures occurred in Gainesville, Pinellas Park, and St. Petersburg in 2025 [1].
Dine Brands’ Response to Rising Costs
Dine Brands, which also owns IHOP and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, reported in its March 2025 annual report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that Applebee’s franchisees are facing increased operating pressures due to rising fuel, food, and utility costs [1]. Despite these closures, Dine Brands President John Peyton stated that closures are a normal part of a mature national system and emphasized the company’s growth momentum [1].
Dual-Brand Strategy: Applebee’s and IHOP
Dine Brands is actively pursuing a strategy of opening dual-brand Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants. As of March 4, 2026, 32 dual-brand restaurants are open in the U.S., including three company-owned locations, with nine more under construction [3]. The company anticipates opening at least 50 dual-brand restaurants in 2026, bringing the total to nearly 80 locations [3]. These dual-brand locations reportedly generate 1.5 to 2.5 times higher revenue than single-brand restaurants [3]. The first dual-branded location opened in Seguin, Texas, in February 2025 [3].
Dine Brands Global Inc. Is a publicly traded food and beverage company headquartered in Pasadena, California, founded in 1958 as IHOP [1].