Applebee's: Eatin' good in the neighbourhood! - Red Lion Data (2024)

Applebee’s: Eatin’ good in the neighbourhood!

Bill and T.J. Palmer opened their first restaurant in Decatur, Georgia in November, 1980. A rather strange name for a restaurant, it was called T.J.Applebee’sRxforEdibles&Elixirs.
Now, that’s a mouthfull!

The pair opened a second location and then sold their company to W.R. Grace and Company in 1983. Part of the deal was that Bill Palmer was named president of Applee’s Division. He guided Applebee’s into a franchise system and became an Applebee’s franchisee in 1985. Today, Bill Palmer owns more than three dozen Applebee’s restaurants.

In 1986, T.J.Applebee’sRxforEdibles&Elixirs became Applebee’sNeighborhoodGrill& Bar, whichmore accurately reflected the concept the Palmers’ wanted from the get-go–a place people could call their own.

In 1988, Kansas City franchisees Abe Gustin and John Hamra purchased the rights to the Applebee’s, thus becoming the chain’s new franchiser.

And along came IHOP…
In 2007,IHOP Corp. agreed to buy Applebee’s International for $2.1 billion. The IHOP Corp. then changed its name to DineEquity, Inc. With the merger, Applebee’sand IHOP combined to become the largest full-service restaurant company in the world, with more than 3,250 locations.

In February, 2008, Applebee’s started a new advertising campaign with the slogan, It’s a whole new neighborhood. In 2009, they changed the slogan again to There’s no place like the neighborhood.

In late September 2017, Applebee‘s brought back their famous slogan Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood.

Drink of the Month
Drink of the Month, you say? Yep, each month Applebee’s offers–at a very low price–a special alcoholic beverage. In January 2019, for example, the special drink was CaptainandCola.That’s right, Captain Morgan’s rum and Pepsi Cola, in a 10-ounce mug, for the insanely low price of $2.

Let’s not forget the kids…
Kids just love the awesome Applebee’s kids’ menu, which includes their all-time favourites, from cheeseburgers and pizza to chicken tenders and real Kraft® Macaroni and Cheese.

Too tired to cook? Need a family night out? Just head on over to you friendly neighbourhood Applebee’swhereyou’llbe
“Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood.”

Gloria Sauvé
Communications and Marketing