5 things you need to know about the applebee's calexico location closure
- The iconic Applebee's in Calexico permanently closed its doors over the weekend, marking the end of a 20-year run for the border town's go-to spot for neighborhood grill and bar favorites, leaving the entire city without a single Applebee's location.
- Local loyalists are blaming the closure on the recent construction and road closures on Imperial Avenue, which they claim cut off the restaurant's main access and slashed foot traffic by over 40% in the last six months, making it impossible to turn a profit.
- The closure of this applebee's calexico location isn't part of a mass shutdown; the franchise had actually seen a slight 3% increase in online delivery orders, but the dine-in drop and rising food costs made the lease renewal unsustainable for the owner.
- Over 45 employees have been laid off as a result of the closure, with many taking to social media to share their final "riblets and a margarita" photos, sparking a wave of nostalgia and anger from residents who feel the city council failed to support the business.
- Rumor has it that a new, unnamed fast-food chain has already signed a lease for the space, but locals are organizing a petition to bring back the applebee's calexico location, citing it as a crucial community hub for birthdays and post-game celebrations in the Imperial Valley.