The world’s bee population is dying off at an alarming rate and scientists don’t know why. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the world’s Bee’s population is also dying off. Yes, Applebee’s restaurants are dropping like honeybees, with the announcement today that 160 Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants are shutting down.
Scientists haven’t turned their attention towards studying the global Applebee’s decline with the same rigor they’ve put into the honeybee decline, but we can hazard a few guesses. Consumer reports say casual dining is trending in favor of speedier options like Chipotle and Panera Bread, which get you out the door faster than your average stop at Applebee’s. Of course, neither Chipotle nor Panera are known to offer Salsa Verde Beef Nachos or Mozzarella Sticks for $6.99 which seems like a real point in Applebee’s favor, so who knows what’s going on.
In a statement, interim CEO Richard Dahl said that “We are investing in the empowerment of our brands by improving overall franchisee financial health, closing underperforming restaurants and enhancing the supply chain,” which is the sort of thing the honeybees would probably also say if they had interim CEOs. Best of luck to both honeybees and Applebee’s in weathering these wild and difficult times.
