Applebee’s Franchisee NRPF Group Two Seeks to Close 5 More Locations Amid Bankruptcy

Applebee’s franchisee NRPF Group Two, which operates nearly 50 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar locations across Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, has filed a federal court motion to close five additional restaurants. The company attributes the closures to unprofitability and has requested permission to reject the leases on these properties.

As of May 2024, most of these Applebee’s locations remain open, though a few were temporarily closed on Google Maps as of the filing date. The planned closures add to the 10 Applebee’s restaurants NRPF Group Two shuttered earlier this year, including locations near major tourist attractions such as Walt Disney World and SeaWorld.

Applebee’s had approximately 1,520 franchised locations as of December 2023, but the casual dining chain has faced declining sales in recent years. The timeline for these new closures and the potential job losses remain unclear.

Which Applebee’s Locations Are Slated for Closure?

According to a May 5 court filing, NRPF Group Two (also known as Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida) is seeking to close the following five locations:

• 2823 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida
• 808 West 7th Street, Tifton, Georgia
• 2615 SW 19th Ave. Rd., Ocala, Florida
• 10606 Sheldon Road, Tampa, Florida
• 298 Southhall Lane, Maitland, Florida

Some of these properties have been under NRPF’s management for over 14 years, dating back to the company’s initial acquisition.

Why Did NRPF Group Two File for Bankruptcy?

NRPF Group Two filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2024, citing financial struggles that began in late 2015. The company stated that its restaurants were initially profitable but faced declining business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and rising operating costs. NRPF had reached a tentative agreement with Dine Brands Global, Applebee’s parent company, to transfer ownership of its locations. Dine Brands also owns IHOP and has been expanding co-branded IHOP-Applebee’s restaurants in 2024.

However, NRPF’s financial difficulties escalated, prompting the bankruptcy filing before the deal could be finalized. Applebee’s is acting as a “stalking horse” bidder in the bankruptcy process, with a deal originally expected to be completed by mid-2024. It remains uncertain whether Applebee’s will take over these five additional locations if the deal proceeds.

NRPF’s court filings indicate that some of these locations are included in the agreement between Applebee’s and NRPF, though further details are pending.