Once hugely popular, Applebee’s closes a Johnson County restaurant after 33 years

Applebee’s Grill + Bar has closed its Shawnee restaurant. It has been operating at 11500 W. 63rd St. for 33 years.

A sign on the door says: “Thank you for being our neighbor for the last 33 years. We’ve enjoyed serving you here and invite you to join us at any of our other KC metro locations.”

It directed customers to locations in Lenexa, Mission and Overland Park.

Corporate officials confirmed the closing, as well as a recent one in Lawrence. It said employees were offered jobs at nearby locations.

It added that closures are a part of the normal course of business in the industry, especially for a company of its size and footprint. Closures may be because a restaurant is in an area that is no longer busy, because leases were expiring or other reasons.

The company does not expect to close other area restaurants at this time.

Applebee’s became a sensation by offering a menu that had something for nearly everyone: appetizers, steaks and ribs, chicken, seafood, salads, burgers and sandwiches.

According to its website, the first restaurant opened in 1980 in Georgia. The first franchise location opened in Kansas City in 1986. By 1989, Applebee’s International Inc. was headquartered in the Kansas City area and had opened its 100th restaurant. That number eventually grew to more than 2,000 restaurants nationwide before the company moved its headquarters to California in 2015. It is now owned by Dine Brands.

The 1999/2000 Greater Kansas City phone book listed nearly two dozen area locations. About a dozen area locations are currently listed on Applebee’s website.