According to reports, two beloved U.S. restaurants will become one in a major update to operations. This will mean customers can enjoy food from both chains when on site.
Applebee’s, which several sites last year, and IHOP are said to be blending brands, with dual restraints on the way. The plans mean that the new restaurants will share a menu and kitchen between both brands, and the front of house will also be blended.
The company’s CEO says the concept has already been tested internationally and is set for the US market soon. Peyton told CBS News the move “presents a compelling opportunity for further growth.”
He went on: “We will continue to monitor the success of this test concept and will consider options for further expansion in the U.S. in select locations if and when it makes sense to do so,” Peyton said, echoing his remarks on the earnings call.”
It appears that new restaurants will feature interiors from both brands, but that customers will be able to move between them freely.
The brand has teased the merger online, with the IHOP X account posting: “@Applebees legit cannot stop thinking about our Buffalo Loaded Omelette.”
Not everyone seemed thrilled. One X user wrote: “ew ihop & applebees are merging.” Another wrote: “IHOP/Applebee’s Hybrids! The collab no one asked for!”
Reddit users were also unsure. One wrote: “This is…weird. Like, they’re so different in food that I don’t know how this is gonna work, but they must know something I don’t. But if I were craving IHOP I don’t think I’d want Applebee’s.”
One wrote: “They know that when one chain’s primary rush hour is in the morning, while the other is in the evening, they can save money by having one set of staff for both restaurants and by only paying for one building instead of two. This has nothing to do with giving the customer some kind of better experience, and everything to do with cutting costs.”
Another agreed and said: “They’re different foods, but perhaps the emphasis of one being breakfast-brunch and the other being lunch and dinner might be a good synergy to drive more sales throughout the day.”
“Not really weird at all, one’s breakfast, one’s a dinner place. Smash them together and you have a complete dinner,” one wrote.
“Beloved” is taking it a bit far.