‘It’s gone downhill,’ Applebee’s customers admit as it closes yet another location as CFO confirms 25 closures

APPLEBEE'S customers weren't surprised to hear that a location shut down after the CFO announced that 25 to 30 restaurants would close this year.

Vance Yuwen Chen, CFO of Dine Brands Global, which owns Applebee's and IHOP, first announced the upcoming closures in February.

However, Applebee's president, Tony Moralejo, stressed that the closures aren't due to struggling business but rather a result of a new development structure.

Regardless of how the company has framed it, customers have their own ideas about why restaurants are shutting down.

After an Applebee's closed in Eastgate, Ohio, near Cincinnati, diners said they weren't surprised.

"Saw that coming," wrote one person in response to a Facebook post announcing the closure.

"Service wasn't the best, and the location couldn't be worse."

"The service was horrible the last time we were there," added another former customer.

"They weren't busy at all."

"Applebee's has gone downhill in the last few years," wrote a third person.

"We used to eat there a lot, but not so much anymore."

BEE GONE

Another Applebee's location shut down in New York on May 19.

The restaurant had been a staple in the Hudson Valley area for 15 years, per ABC affiliate WTEN.

“We hope to see you at our neighboring restaurants throughout the Albany and Hudson Valley markets,” a spokesperson from T.L. Cannon told The Daily Gazette.

Local diners were caught off guard by the news and said they were sad to see the restaurant shut down.

“We’ve never had a bad experience there and the staff was always so friendly and always good service!” one customer said.

Restaurant closures in 2024

The restaurant industry has seen several closures in the last year. The U.S. Sun has been keeping an eye on closing locations across the country

• Cracker Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed.
• Red Lobster: Announced that at least 87 locations would close across 21 states amid a Chapter 11 filing
• Mod Pizza: Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops, including in the state of California.
• BurgerFi: Shut down 14 locations in 2023 and eight more this year.

Just weeks before that, another Applebee's closed in Waco, Texas.

Guests found out from a note taped to the door that announced the closure.

"From April 29th, 2024, this Applebee’s is closed,” it said.

“We regret any inconvenience it has caused our valued guests."

Applebee's isn't the only restaurant facing multiple closures.

Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy and closed 87 stores, but now a famous rapper is trying to save the chain.

Plus, a popular burger joint and In-N-Out rival is considering filing for bankruptcy after closing eight locations.