Two Applebee's restaurants in Wisconsin abruptly closed, leaving customers stunned and employees displaced. The locations, situated in the Milwaukee-area suburbs of West Allis and Delafield, shut down with little warning, marked only by brief notes on their locked doors. Patrons arrived expecting meals, only to face disappointment and confusion.
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The closures stem from financial troubles tied to the franchisee, SBG Apple North. Court records reveal the company defaulted on rent totaling $150,000 across both sites. In Milwaukee County, the West Allis landlord filed an eviction order this month, citing nearly $90,000 in unpaid rent and chronic late payments. Waukesha County documents show the Delafield location owed over $60,000 for past-due rent and additional charges. Authorities enforced the evictions, with police arriving during business hours to order staff out immediately.
Applebee's Customers in Disbelief
Regulars expressed shock at the sudden closures. "Got up to the door. Saw the sign. And, yeah, disappointed," Sandy Bansemer told WISN-TV, a Milwaukee news station. She tugged at the locked doors, unwilling to trust the note, but found the restaurant dark and empty. Darlene Duewel, a lifelong West Allis resident, stood outside the same location, reeling from the news. "I'm shocked because I'm a West Allis girl, and I've lived here a long, long time," she said. "We came to Applebee's quite often. I'm totally stunned. We hadn't heard anything."
The lack of prior notice fueled frustration. Customers expecting to "Eat Good in the Neighborhood," as the chain's slogan promises, instead encountered silence from both SBG Apple North and Applebee's corporate headquarters. WISN 12 News sought comments from both entities, but neither responded.
A Broader Impact
The evictions highlight ongoing challenges for the Florida-based franchisee, which operates the now-shuttered locations. Meanwhile, four other Applebee's restaurants in the region -- Menomonee Falls, West Milwaukee, Oak Creek, and Kenosha -- remain open, unaffected by the closures.
The sudden loss of the West Allis and Delafield sites leaves a void for loyal patrons and raises questions about the franchisee's financial stability. For now, the locked doors and terse notes stand as the only farewell to a once-familiar dining spot.
