Applebee’s franchise owner closes one of its Kettering...

The Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar at 1450 W. Dorothy Lane in Kettering has closed permanently, although a spokesman for the Applebee’s chain says all of that location’s employees have been offered positions at other Applebee’s restaurants in the region.

All of the open and operating Applebee’s franchise restaurants in southwest and central Ohio were recently sold by Lexington, Ky.-based restaurant management company Thomas & King to RMH Franchise Corp. of Lincoln, Neb. Applebee’s corporate spokesman Dan Smith said the sale has gone through for 78 of the approximately 88 Applebee’s in four states, including Ohio. Thomas & King decided to close the West Dorothy Lane location, Smith said, although he could not elaborate on the reasons why.

Two other Ohio Applebee’s locations — Milford near Cincinnati and Dublin near Columbus — also closed, as did one in Lexington, Ky. and a handful of locations in suburban Phoenix, Smith said.

The Applebee’s spokesman said the parent company is committed to working with the new franchise owner to expand the Applebee’s footprint. “RMH is a strong, growing franchise partner, and they are committed to sustainable growth in those markets,” including southwest Ohio, Smith said.

RMH now is the owner-operator of the other Applebee’s Kettering location at 1795 Delco Park Drive just off East Dorothy Lane, as well as the Applebee’s restaurants in Huber Heights, West Carrollton, Troy, Sugarcreek Twp.-Centerville, Springboro, Xenia, Hamilton, Middletown, Springfield, West Chester, Mason and Fairfield.

The acquisition more than doubled the number of Applebee’s that RMH operates under franchise agreements.

Applebee’s operates more than 2,000 restaurants in 49 states and 16 countries. DineEquity Inc. — Applebee’s parent company, based in Glendale, California — also owns IHOP restaurants.

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About the Author

Mark Fisher

Mark Fisher, a 1981 graduate of Ohio State University and a 1976 graduate of Beavercreek High School, is a third-generation Dayton-area resident who has worked for the Dayton Daily News since 1983. He covered higher education and K-12 education accountability issues for nearly 20 years before taking over the food and dining beat in 2006.