Applebee’s, the family-friendly restaurant chain known for its casual dining and 2-for-$20 meals, has announced it is closing dozens of locations across the United States in 2025.

The company said the decision was due to rising operating costs, lower foot traffic, and a major brand shift toward combining locations with IHOP under one roof.

“We’re responding to changing guest behavior and looking for smarter ways to operate,”
– Tony Moralejo, Applebee’s President.

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📉 Why Are They Closing?
• Declining customer visits since the pandemic
• Higher costs for food, rent, and labor
• More competition from fast-casual restaurants & delivery services
• Strategic focus on IHOP + Applebee’s dual-brand stores

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📍 Locations Already Closed or Closing Soon:
• Florida (Pinellas County)
• Texas
• Ohio
• California
• More to be announced…

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😢 Facebook Reacts:

The news exploded on Facebook this week. Thousands shared memories of birthday parties and family nights.

“I grew up eating at Applebee’s. Sad to see it go.”
“It was good back in the day — but lately, service went downhill.”

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⚠️ The Bottom Line:

Applebee’s is not going away completely, but it’s shrinking quickly. If you have a local Applebee’s near you — it might not be around much longer.

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📸 [You can add a photo of a closed Applebee’s location with a “Closed” sign for more emotion.]