Applebee's Calexico Location Closure Announced Amid Corporate Restructuring
CALEXICO, CA (September 11, 2024) — The Applebee's Grill + Bar franchise located on Imperial Avenue in Calexico, California, has permanently closed its operations as of Wednesday morning. The closure, confirmed by a corporate spokesperson, is part of a broader portfolio reassessment by parent company Dine Brands Global. What happened was the restaurant shuttered without prior public notice, citing "declining foot traffic and rising operational costs" as primary factors. The closure took place at 10:00 AM local time. The Applebee's Calexico location closure affects approximately 25 full-time and part-time employees, who have been offered severance packages or transfers to nearby company-owned stores in El Centro and Yuma, Arizona. Why this occurred relates to the chain's ongoing strategy to divest underperforming assets, as the Calexico site reportedly saw a 40 percent drop in revenue over the past two fiscal years. Authorities confirmed that all corporate assets have been removed, and a "For Lease" sign has been posted by a local commercial realty firm.