Applebee's Closing Some Restaurants, But Brevard Locations Remain Open

The casual dining chain has shuttered several locations across the U.S., but no closures have been announced for its Brevard County restaurants.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 9:05am

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Applebee's, the popular casual dining chain, has closed some underperforming locations nationwide, but its three restaurants in Brevard County, Florida, remain open. The company has not released an official list of which restaurants are slated for closure, but franchisees have reportedly struggled with rising operational costs for food, fuel, and utilities.

Why it matters

The closure of Applebee's locations is a concerning trend for the restaurant industry, as rising costs and economic pressures continue to impact businesses. However, the fact that Brevard County's Applebee's restaurants have not announced any plans to close is a positive sign for the local community and economy.

The details

Applebee's has closed a handful of locations nationwide since February, though the company has not released a list of restaurants slated to shut down. While four Florida locations closed in 2025 and another closed earlier this month, no Applebee's locations in Brevard County have announced plans to close. The three Brevard County Applebee's locations are in Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Merritt Island.

  • In 2025, at least four Applebee's locations in Florida closed, in Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg.
  • On March 9, 2026, an Applebee's location in Ormond Beach closed.

The players

Applebee's

A popular casual dining chain with over 1,500 locations nationwide.

John Peyton

The President of Applebee's, who stated that restaurant closures 'are a normal part of running a mature national system, but they don't define our trajectory.'

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What they’re saying

“What matters is the momentum behind our growth, and we're seeing real signs of an inflection point. This year, we're planning on opening more restaurants than we have in prior years.”

— John Peyton, President, Applebee's

The takeaway

While Applebee's is closing some underperforming locations nationwide, the Brevard County restaurants have remained open, indicating that the local market is still viable for the chain. This is a positive sign for the community, as the Applebee's locations provide jobs and contribute to the local economy.