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Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar is a long-running American casual dining chain known for value-driven meals, bar-and-grill favorites, and a broad menu that includes burgers, chicken, salads, rib dishes, pasta, and shareable appetizers. Applebee’s was founded in 1980 and is part of Dine Brands Global, Inc. (the parent company that also franchises IHOP).
This 2026 update compiles the most current Applebee’s footprint and performance indicators published by its parent company, alongside clearly labeled historical benchmarks.
Answer (2026 update): How many Applebee’s restaurants are there?
- 1,579 total Applebee’s restaurants worldwide at the end of FY 2025 (1,520 franchised + 59 company-owned).
- 1,614 total restaurants one year earlier at the end of FY 2024 (1,567 franchised + 47 company-owned).
Key Applebee’s Metrics (Latest Available)
| Metric | Value | Year / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 | 1980 |
| Parent company | Dine Brands Global, Inc. | Current |
| Total restaurants (systemwide) | 1,579 | FY 2025 (year-end) |
| Franchised restaurants | 1,520 | FY 2025 (year-end) |
| Company-owned restaurants | 59 | FY 2025 (year-end) |
| Total restaurants (systemwide) | 1,614 | FY 2024 (year-end) |
| Total system sales | $4.2146B | FY 2025 |
| Total system sales | $4.2503B | FY 2024 |
| Domestic same-restaurant sales change | +1.3% | FY 2025 |
| Domestic same-restaurant sales change | -4.2% | FY 2024 |
| Domestic average weekly unit sales (franchise) | $54.3K | FY 2025 |
| Domestic average weekly unit sales (franchise) | $52.3K | FY 2024 |
| Historical benchmark: restaurants in operation | 1,654 restaurants | As of Sep 30, 2023 (press release statement) |
Applebee’s Restaurant Count (2026 Update)
Applebee’s operates a primarily franchised system. At the end of FY 2025, Applebee’s reported 1,579 total restaurants worldwide, made up of 1,520 franchised locations and 59 company-owned restaurants.
For context, Applebee’s ended FY 2024 with 1,614 total restaurants worldwide (1,567 franchised + 47 company-owned). That means the system size declined year-over-year even as the company continued experimenting with development formats, including dual-branded locations with IHOP.
Openings and Closures
Applebee’s systemwide development activity shows why the total restaurant count moved lower:
- FY 2025 (franchised): 17 opened, 64 closed (ending at 1,520 franchised units)
- FY 2024 (franchised): 26 opened, 101 closed (ending at 1,567 franchised units)
Company-owned restaurant counts increased in FY 2025, which Dine Brands attributes in part to acquisitions of franchised restaurants that were brought into company operations.
System Sales and Same-Restaurant Sales Trends
When a brand is mostly franchised, system sales help show the overall scale of restaurant-level sales across the network (franchised + company-owned):
- Applebee’s total system sales: $4.2146B in FY 2025
- Applebee’s total system sales: $4.2503B in FY 2024
Same-restaurant sales (“comps”) show how established restaurants performed year over year. Applebee’s reported +1.3% domestic same-restaurant sales change in FY 2025, compared with -4.2% in FY 2024.
Off-Premise Snapshot (Delivery/To-Go)
Off-premise matters for casual dining because it can change the sales mix and weekly throughput. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Dine Brands reported that off-premise sales were 23.0% of Applebee’s sales mix, with per-restaurant average weekly off-premise sales of about $11,900.
FAQ
How many Applebee’s restaurants are there in 2026?
The latest annual reporting from Dine Brands shows Applebee’s ended FY 2025 with 1,579 total restaurants worldwide (1,520 franchised + 59 company-owned).
Is Applebee’s franchised?
Yes—Applebee’s is primarily franchised. At the end of FY 2025, Applebee’s reported 1,520 franchised restaurants versus 59 company-owned.
Did Applebee’s grow or shrink in 2025?
It shrunk systemwide year over year, from 1,614 restaurants (FY 2024) to 1,579 (FY 2025), driven by more closures than openings in the franchised system.
What are “system sales”?
System sales represent total restaurant-level sales across the brand’s network (franchised + company-owned). For franchised brands, this is often the clearest scale indicator, since the corporate parent does not record franchised restaurant sales as company revenue.
What are “same-restaurant sales” (comps)?
Same-restaurant sales compare sales at restaurants open long enough to be measured fairly year over year. It helps separate operating performance from changes caused by openings and closures.
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