April 3, 2026, 8:07 p.m. ET
An Atlanta-based Applebee’s franchisee that operates over 50 locations has filed for bankruptcy and shuttered 10 places throughout Florida and Georgia.
The closures come after Applebee’s franchisee, Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 24. The paperwork, filed within the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, present that the corporate has between $10 million and $50 million in liabilities.
Per the courtroom paperwork reviewed by USA TODAY, the franchisee purchased 50 Applebee’s eating places in May 2012, then purchased one other 15 eating places 4 months later from one other franchisee. While the franchisee noticed a lot success between 2013 and 2015, gross sales started to droop in late 2015.
“The companies then experienced periods of ups and downs, as they battled through various unsuccessful strategies and promotions, the COVID-19 pandemic and the inflationary pressures presently impacting the entire restaurant industry,” Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida mentioned within the paperwork.
In addition to monetary struggles, the franchisee mentioned working bills elevated as a result of inflation.
Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida closed 9 eating places in 2025 and 5 through the first quarter of 2026, bringing its fleet right down to 53 places, which can be up for grabs in a bankruptcy sale slated for mid-May. Applebee’s is heading the bankruptcy sale for the franchisee, per the courtroom paperwork.
At least 10 of the already closed places are in Florida and Georgia, per the courtroom paperwork. Rob Williamson, a lawyer representing the franchisee, mentioned on April 3 that the enterprise “plans to use the Chapter 11 process to facilitate a going concern sale of all of the current restaurants, and no additional closures are planned.”
Most closures in Florida, per courtroom paperwork
Court paperwork reviewed by USA TODAY on April 3 present that among the many greater than 1,500 places Applebee’s owns worldwide, Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida ran 53 of them as of late March.
While it’s unclear what date the places closed, the corporate mentioned some eating places deemed “unprofitable” had already closed their doorways.
In the paperwork, the franchise mentioned there have been 10 eating places whose leases the corporate deliberate to reject.
These places no longer appear on the franchisee’s locations website:
Florida
- Casselberry – 3315 U.S. Highway 17-19
- Celebration – 6290 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
- Daytona Beach – 1700 W. Intl. Speedway Blvd., Unit 600
- Kissimmee – 14990 E. Orange Lake Blvd.
- Orlando – 11036 International Drive
- Orlando – 2503 S. Kirkman Road
- Ormond Beach – 150 Williamson Blvd.
- Panama City – 678 West twenty third St.
- Panama City Beach – 10071 Hutchison Blvd.
Georgia
- Albany – 637 Westover Blvd.
Applebee’s model ‘remains strong,’ CEO says
Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida mentioned within the courtroom paperwork that the corporate tried to search out traders and promote the places. Company executives labored with banking agency Citizens Bank to supervise the sale course of, which lasted 4 to 5 months however fell by way of.
The franchisee mentioned it contacted over 83 teams, and whereas 17 initially expressed curiosity, they discovered no consumers.
The franchisee has reached a tentative settlement with Applebee’s and its mum or dad firm, Dine Brands. Per the settlement, Applebee’s will act because the stalking horse bidder, a time period for an entity that units the minimal sale worth for property throughout bankruptcy gross sales, per Washington, D.C. law firm Jones Day.
Applebee’s can take part within the bankruptcy sale if firm executives need to. That sale ought to happen in mid-May this 12 months, Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida mentioned within the courtroom paperwork.
John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands CEO and Applebee’s President, mentioned in a assertion to USA TODAY on April 3, that “the Applebee’s brand remains strong.”
“Serving as the stalking horse bidder gives us the opportunity to be strategic and selective in supporting the long-term health of the system and this portfolio of restaurants has historically had solid performance,” Peyton mentioned within the assertion. “We’re approaching this the same way we always do — with a focus on stability, growth, and doing what’s right for our guests, team members, and franchise partners.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending staff. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.
