Santa Rosa Applebee's Not Among Those Slated For Closure

SANTA ROSA, CA -- The Applebee's restaurant on Santa Rosa Avenue in Santa Rosa will not be closing any time soon, according to its ownership. Although DineEquity, the parent company of the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand, announced last week that it expects to close between 105 and 135 restaurants across the country, the Santa Rosa location has separate ownership.

In a statement Friday, Greg Flynn, chairman and CEO of Flynn Restaurant Group, parent company of Apple American Group, assured guests and employees that DineEquity's announcement "in no way affects franchised Applebee’s locations that we own and operate."

He continued by saying that San Francisco-based Apple American Group "is supported by the strong financial footing of Flynn Restaurant Group and has no plans to close any restaurants at this time. Our Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar locations are 100-percent open for business and we look forward to continuing to deliver an excellent dining experience that our guests have grown to love."

Founded in 1999 by Flynn, Flynn Restaurant Group LP owns and operates 477 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants, 274 Taco Bell and related Yum! Brand restaurants, and 130 Panera Bread bakery-cafes.

Photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr Creative Commons