Applebee’s closures reported in 3 states. See shuttering locations.

Saleen Martin and Jon Webb, USA TODAY

Thu, February 26, 2026 at 8:07 AM GMT+9 4 min read

Nearly a quarter into the new year, Applebee’s has closed restaurants in multiple states, including Indiana, Missouri and New York, according to local reports and franchisees.

Four closures have been confirmed so far, including two locations in Evansville, Indiana, run by parent company Dine Brands; a franchised location in Columbia, Missouri; and another franchised location slated for closure in Glenville, New York.

There are currently more than 1,500 Applebee’s locations worldwide, per the company’s website.

Two of the closures happened on Thursday, Feb. 19, in southwestern Indiana, according to the Evansville Courier & Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Both restaurants had been open for several decades, but no longer appear on Applebee’s website, the outlet reported.

“Thank you for being our neighbor for the last 30 years,” a sign on the door read.

A security gate blocks the entrance to a closed Applebee’s restaurant on Aug. 13, 2020 in San Francisco, California.

Applebee’s parent company, Dine Brands, which also owns IHOP and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, filed its annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2025. In the report, Applebee’s franchisees have recently struggled with rising fuel and food costs, as well as utility bills, reported the Evansville Courier & Press.

When USA TODAY asked Dine Brands for a list of closing restaurants on Feb. 25, the company declined and instead sent a statement from Applebee’s President John Peyton. In the statement, Peyton said restaurant closures “are a normal part of running a mature national system, but they don’t define our trajectory.”

“What matters is the momentum behind our growth, and we’re seeing real signs of an inflection point,” Peyton continued. “This year, we’re planning on opening more restaurants than we have in prior years.”

Here’s what we know about the closures so far.

Applebee’s closures in New York and Missouri

In addition to the Evansville, Indiana, locations closing this month, a Columbia, Missouri location closed after more than 30 years on Feb. 18, reported KIMZ-TV and the Columbia Missourian.

Apple Central LLC, the franchisee that ran the Columbia location, confirmed the closure to both outlets.

“We greatly appreciate our neighbors’ patronage for the past +30 years and look forward to continuing to serve them at our location at 2601 East Broadway in Columbia,” Scott Fischer, director of marketing at Apple Central LLC, told the Columbia Missourian.

New York’s Capital District location in Glenville is closing on April 12, reported WSTM-TV and WTEN-TV. All employees were offered positions at nearby locations, reported News10 ABC.

T.L. Cannon, Applebee’s franchisee running the Glenville, New York location, said in a statement to WTEN-TV that the restaurant had been open for 10 years.

Story Continues  

“(We) look forward to continuing to serve them at our 5 other restaurant locations in the Albany area,” Stephanie Griffin, vice president of marketing for T.L. Cannon, said in the statement.

USA TODAY contacted franchisees Apple Central LLC and T.L. Cannon for more information on the Missouri and New York closures, but has not received a response.

**Closures elsewhere: **Pizza Hut closing hundreds of locations in 2026. Here’s why.

More dual-branded Applebee’s, IHOP restaurants coming

Parent company Dine Brands hosted a fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Feb. 25, during which executives said the brand’s 2025 performance improved compared to 2024.

According to Dine Brands, the improvements were largely due to the company’s attempts at “enhancing the guest experience through operational improvements, strengthening our marketing to better connect with guests, and advancing menu innovation.”

Dine Brands also said the company took some restaurants back from franchisees and overall, generated $879.3 million in revenue, or 8.2% higher than in 2024. Per the company, Applebee’s sales were up 1.3%, compared to a negative 4.2% in 2024.

The company has also opened numerous dual-branded restaurants, or combination restaurants, serving both IHOP and Applebee’s. The company opened its first dual-branded restaurant in the United States in February 2025.

“As of today, we’ve opened 32 dual-brand restaurants in the U.S., including three company-owned locations with an additional nine dual brands under construction,” the company said. “These restaurants continue to outperform single-brand locations, delivering approximately 1.5 to 2.5 times higher revenue.”

The company expects at least 50 dual-brand restaurant openings in 2026, bringing its portfolio to nearly 80 dual-branded U.S. locations by the end of the year.

Customers and employees at Applebee’s may also find managers more easily in the dining room, as the company said it will focus on “core fundamentals that directly enhance the guest experience and drive profitability.”The company said manager visibility is “linked to higher guest satisfaction, more consistent execution, and improved (off-site) order accuracy.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What’s going on with Applebee’s? Closures reported in these 3 states.

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