Photo: Getty Images
Red Lobster isn't the only national restaurant chain making headlines for closing stores as a cost-saving measure, Pizza Hut, Boston Market, TGI Fridays, Popeyes and Cracker Barrel have all done it, and now, Applebee's will be shuttering dozens of restaurants as well.
Last year, the casual eating chain shut down 46 locations, and on their latest earnings call, company President Tony Moralejo revealed they'd be closing another 35. He stated that the decision was "incredibly difficult" and a "last resort." There will still be about 1,500 Applebee's in America, so the company is thriving, but to help with costs, underperforming locations need to be shuttered.
Already this year, Applebee's restaurants in Antioch, California and Waco, Texas closed, while the one in Hudson, New York will shut down on Sunday. Employees there will be offered other jobs in the company.
Applebee's parent company, Dine Brands, will be trying new things in the future though to help with sales. Among the plans, since they also own IHOP, they will begin building combined Applebee's-IHOP restaurants next year.
For now, there is no word yet on which Applebee's will be closing in the coming months.