Pizza Hut to close 250 U.S. stores
Pizza Hut announced it will close 250 underperforming U.S. stores in 2026 as part of a strategic review by parent company Yum! brand.
Nearly a quarter of the way into the new year, Applebee’s has closed restaurants in multiple states, including Indiana, Missouri and New York, according to local reports and franchisees.
Four store closures have been confirmed so far, including two in Evansville, Indiana, operated by parent company Dine Brands. Franchise location in Columbia, Missouri. Another franchise location in Glenville, New York, is also scheduled to close.
According to the company’s website, Applebee’s currently has more than 1,500 locations around the world.
Two of the closures occurred in southwest Indiana on Thursday, Feb. 19, according to the Evansville Courier & Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Both restaurants had been open for decades, but are no longer listed on Applebee’s website, the newspaper reported.
“Thank you for being our neighbor for the past 30 years,” a sign on the door said.
Applebee’s parent company Dine Brands, which also owns IHOP and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, filed its annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2025. In a report, the Evansville Courier and Press said Applebee’s franchisees have recently struggled with rising utility bills as well as fuel and food costs.
When USA TODAY asked Dine Brands for a list of closed restaurants on February 25, the company declined, instead sending a statement from Applebee’s President John Payton. Paton said in a statement that restaurant closures are “a natural part of running a mature national system, but they do not define our trajectory.”
“What’s important is our growth momentum, and we’re seeing real signs of a turning point,” Payton continued. “We are planning to open more restaurants this year than usual.”
Here’s what we know about the closure so far.
Applebee’s closes in New York and Missouri
In addition to the Evansville, Indiana store closing this month, the Columbia, Missouri store also closed on February 18 after more than 30 years, KIMZ-TV and the Columbia Missourian reported.
Apple Central LLC, the franchisee that operated the Columbia store, confirmed the closure of both stores.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of our neighbors over the past 30-plus years and look forward to continuing to serve them at our facility at 2601 East Broadway in Columbia,” Scott Fischer, director of marketing for Apple Central LLC, told the Columbia Missourian.
The Glenville store in New York’s Capital District will close on April 12, WSTM-TV and WTEN-TV reported. All employees have been offered positions at nearby locations, News10 ABC reports.
TL Cannon, the franchisee that operates Applebee’s Glenville, N.Y., store, said in a statement to WTEN-TV that the restaurant had been open for 10 years.
“(We) look forward to continuing to offer it at our other five restaurants in the Albany area,” Stephanie Griffin, vice president of marketing for TL Cannon, said in a statement.
USA TODAY reached out to franchisees Apple Central LLC and TL Cannon for more information about the Missouri and New York closures, but did not receive a response.
More Applebee’s and IHOP dual-brand restaurants coming soon
Parent company Dine Brands held a fourth-quarter earnings conference on Wednesday, February 25, and executives said the brand’s 2025 results improved compared to 2024.
According to Dine Brands, the improvements were primarily due to the company’s efforts to “enhance the guest experience through operational improvements, strengthen marketing to connect with guests, and advance menu innovation.”
Dine Brands also announced that the company acquired certain restaurants from franchisees, resulting in overall revenue of $879.3 million, an 8.2% increase over 2024. Applebee’s sales increased 1.3%, compared with a -4.2% decline in 2024, according to the company.
The company has also opened a number of dual-brand or combination restaurants that serve both IHOP and Applebee’s. The company opened its first dual-brand restaurant in the U.S. in February 2025.
“As of today, we have opened 32 dual-brand restaurants in the United States, including three company-owned restaurants, and nine additional dual-brand restaurants are under construction,” the company said. “These restaurants continue to outperform single-brand locations, delivering approximately 1.5 to 2.5 times more revenue.”
The company expects to open at least 50 dual-brand restaurants in 2026, and by the end of the year its portfolio will be around 80 dual-brand stores in the United States.
Applebee’s customers and employees may also find it easier to find managers in the dining room. The company says it will focus on “core fundamentals that directly improve the guest experience and drive profitability.” The company says that manager visibility is “associated with improved guest satisfaction, more consistent execution, and improved (off-site) order accuracy.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia (757). Email sdmartin@usatoday.com.
