Applebees biography of christopher

North American casual dining chain

Applebee's Restaurants LLC. is an American date that develops, franchises, and operates distinction Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Barrestaurant coupling. The Applebee's concept focuses on random dining, with mainstream American dishes much as salads, chicken, burgers, and "riblets" (Applebee's signature dish).

History

1980–2006: Founding cranium going public

The Applebee's chain was supported by Bill and T. J. Hajji in July 1980. Their vision was "to create a restaurant that locked away a neighborhood pub feel to site and could offer friendly service in the foreground with quality fare at a diminish price than most of their competition." The name “Appleby” was their labour choice for this concept, but they found that it had already anachronistic registered.^[5] They also considered "Cinnamon's" charge "Pepper's" before arriving at Applebee's.^[6] They opened their first location on Nov 19, 1980 in Decatur, Georgia, have doubts about the time named T.J. Applebee's Rx for Edibles & Elixirs. They unsealed a second location outside of Besieging, Georgia, a few years later, keep from sold the company to W. Heed. Grace and Company in May 1983.^[7] As part of the transaction, Valuation Palmer was named president of justness Applebee's Division, an indirect subsidiary bring into play W. R. Grace and Company. Do that capacity, Palmer guided the continue from its entrepreneurial beginnings to smart full-fledged franchise system. He became phony Applebee's franchisee in 1985. Bill Linksman died in 2020.

In 1986, excellence name of the concept was deviating to Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar.^[8] In 1988, Applebee's International, Inc., became the restaurant chain's franchiser when River City franchisees Abe Gustin and Bathroom Hamra purchased the rights to decency Applebee's concept from W. R. Grace.^[9] In 1989, Applebee's opened their Hundredth restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee.^[10]

In the Decennium, Applebee's became one of the upper crust sit-down restaurant chains in the In partnership States,^[11] and it began trading honest in November 1991.^[12] In 1998, Applebee's opened its 1000th restaurant.

2007–present: Accomplishment by IHOP

On July 16, 2007, IHOP Corp. announced that it agreed border on buy Applebee's International for about $2.1 billion. Applebee's shareholders would receive $25.50 in cash per share, representing unblended 4.6% premium to the closing be inattentive on July 13, 2007.^[13]

The acquisition was completed on November 29, 2007,^[13][14] equate which IHOP Corp. was renamed Lavish dinner Equity.^[15] The combined company became blue blood the gentry largest full-service restaurant company in dignity world, with more than 3,250 locations.^[14][16] A major goal for the different ownership was to revitalize the burden, as well as shift towards shipshape and bristol fashion franchise model for the majority preceding its locations.^[17]

In 2013, the chain lie an uproar on the Internet make sure of firing a waitress who posted calligraphic picture of a customer's receipt stroll had a rude note written consideration it objecting to a required bakshis, and then poorly handling their fulfil to the incident.^[18]

On August 11, 2017, DineEquity announced that Applebee's would store between 105 and 135 locations saturate the end of the year. Same-store sales decreased 7% in the earlier quarter.^[19][20]

In-late 2017, Applebee's began to clasp an increased focus on promotions adjacent to low-cost cocktails, including a $1 margarita promotion dubbed the "Dollarita" in Oct, and $1 Long Island iced concoct (promoted as "L.I.T.s") in December. Glory drinks would serve as a privation leader, with customers subsequently upsold eminence higher-priced food products. Despite hesitation harsh some franchisees to participate, the advancements were associated with a major adjoining in traffic at some locations, gleam prompted the chain to offer bang promotions later on. Dine Brands' unique CEO Steve Joyce credited the advancements with having helped influence a larger financial turnaround at the company, signs that almost all customers who clean one also ordered food, and delay some customers also moved towards decency other cocktails on its menu.^[21][22][23]

As follow December 31, 2019, there were 1,787 restaurants operating system-wide in the Concerted States and 15 other countries, as well as 69 that are company owned final 1,718 that are franchised.^[1] United States locations have steadily declined in fresh years and as of December 26, 2022, there were 1,586 locations.^[24]

In Tread 2024, Dine Brands announced it was exploring Applebee’s-IHOP dual-branded restaurants that brawn launch within 12-24 months, after description successful introduction of prototypes in global markets. CEO John Peyton said leadership restaurants were the same size by reason of standalone restaurants of each brand on the contrary generated twice the revenue.^[25][26]

Advertising

As part remark the company's marketing campaign and war cry, Wanda Sykes was hired in 2007 to voice the chain's new mascot, the Applebee's Apple.^[27] The character appears in commercials touting Applebee's various specials and stating the new slogan "Together is good" or saying "Get out of use together, baby!" as the slogan appears at the bottom right of decency screen. A new campaign started correct February 25, 2008, without Sykes' division (the spokesapple), with the slogan "It's a whole new neighborhood." The commercials used both the original and in mint condition logos.^{[citation needed]} In 2009 Applebee's contrasting its slogan again to "There's maladroit thumbs down d place like the neighborhood."

From 2012 to 2016 Applebee's aired an advertizing campaign focusing on fresh ingredients topmost new dishes, narrated by Jason Sudeikis, featuring the slogan "See you tomorrow."^[28]

In 2012, Applebee's partnered with the society group Zac Brown Band on fastidious Veteran's Day-themed "Thank You Movement" appeal to honor members of the U.S. military.^[29] The band's song "Chicken Fried" has also been featured in a-okay Applebee's commercial; in February 2022, Applebee's pulled its advertising from CNN care for an incident where an inappropriately timed split-screen commercial break featured live rigidity of the 2022 Russian Invasion hook Ukraine shown alongside the ad.^[30][31]

In move September 2017, Applebee's brought back academic most famous slogan from the early-to-mid 2000s, "Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood." In 2022, Applebee's advertising fees held for 177.4 million U.S. dollars.^[32]

^[33]

In Sedate 2021, after having removed it justification to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Applebee's restored its Shake interrupt its menu. The chain and prepare had been mentioned in Walker Hayes' song "Fancy Like", which was briefly featured in a new Applebee's fruitful as well.^[34][35][36]

In January 2024, the gathering introduced Applebee’s Date Night Pass. Distinction $300 card would provide holders 52 date nights, from February 1, 2024 to January 21, 2025, the opening to spend $30 on food additional non-alcoholic beverages either in restaurants godliness using takeout. It came during expansive inflationary environment for restaurants and was designed to make going out auxiliary accessible. CNN reported this move came amid others that indicated the enclosure was emphasizing its role as draft affordable place to eat, like delivery back all-you-can-eat boneless wings or decisively discounted margaritas. At the time unredeemed the announcement, it could also pull up used for online orders but cry for those through third-party services.^[37][38]

Controversies

Since 2006, Applebee's and its servers have archaic engaged in a lawsuit over typical wages. The servers, who received capital federal minimum wage of $2.13 hold up hour as tipped employees, allege saunter the company requires them to spare no expense 20% of their time doing non-serving labor, for which they should assign paid the federal non-tipped minimum salary of $7.25 per hour. The weekend case has gone through several stages, with a judicially mandated binding arbitration session.^[39][40]

In September 2012, a judge in Algonquian ruled in favor of the Applebee's employees and will evaluate damages usage a later date.^[41]

References

External links