Overview
- In New York, the Glenville restaurant at 268 Saratoga Road will permanently close on April 12, 2026, while two Evansville, Indiana locations and a Columbia, Missouri site have already shut this month.
- Franchisee T.L. Cannon confirmed the Glenville closure and said employees and managers were offered transfers to nearby restaurants.
- Applebee’s and franchisees cite sustained increases in food, labor, utility and other operating costs that have made certain locations unviable.
- Dine Brands says 32 dual‑branded Applebee’s/IHOP restaurants are now open in the U.S., with nine under construction, and expects at least 50 openings in 2026 to reach nearly 80 by year‑end; these units generate roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times the revenue of single‑brand sites.
- Despite selective closures and a 2025 projection of 20–35 shutdowns, Applebee’s still operates about 1,500 locations, and leadership says it plans to open more restaurants this year than in prior years.