Two Huge Chains Are Merging to Form New Joint Restaurant

With establishments like Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken, it’s become commonplace. Regardless if you opt for drive-thru service or choose to dine in, you can select options from both menus at numerous combo locations nationwide.

Soon, we’ll have the ability to manage both Applebee’s Bar + Grill and International House of Pancakes (often just referred to as IHOP), just like we do with other establishments.

Should we call it AppleHop or HopBee’s? To each his or her own, I guess.

Here’s a breakdown of the restaurant news as reported by CBS: Both prominent restaurant chains share a common parent company, Dine Brands Inc. This company is currently merging the two operations, allowing for a shared experience, while maintaining separate menus for each chain.

At this restaurant, you’ll find two separate entryways – one leading from Applebee’s and the other from IHOP. Regardless of which door you choose to walk through, the identical kitchen and back-of-house area will prepare your meal.

As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, you have the flexibility to sit at either side and order from both menus.

In simpler terms, this two-in-one business model could potentially earn double the revenue compared to single, independent establishments due to its versatility in serving meals from early morning through late night.

According to USA Today, it’s also about efficiency for diners.

As a dedicated cinephile, I can’t help but see parallels between the thriving world of movies and the ever-expanding food scene. Just like how films find success in various settings – urban, suburban, and even small college towns – so too do popular chains like Applebee’s and IHOP flourish everywhere, as reported by Nation’s Restaurant News.

Regarding a possible name switch? The signs will be displayed upfront, but the overall branding will remain largely unchanged.

Popular Restaurants That Have Faded Away

All-Star Cafe

The global triumph of the Hard Rock Cafe led to a trend of imitation themed eateries. However, these novelty-focused restaurants proved less durable than those centered around good cuisine, and most imitators of Hard Rock vanished within a few years. One such example is the Official All-Star Cafe, a spin-off from the Planet Hollywood chain, which was supported by famous athletes like Shaquille O’Neal, Ken Griffey Jr., and Wayne Gretzky instead of movie stars. The first location opened in New York City in 1995, but the chain failed to thrive. It could be that the association between sporting events and pricey, unappetizing fare played a role in its downfall. The Official All-Star Cafe closed its doors in 2007.

Beefsteak Charlie’s

Over time, a restaurant based in New York City grew significantly, earning the status of an established institution across the Tri-State region with numerous branches. Their ads boasting their steaks and limitless salad bars became common sights on television. The chain and its famous catchphrase “You’re gonna get spoiled!” were humorously criticized in an early Saturday Night Live sketch, titled “Pre-Chewed Charlie’s.” Despite its well-known brand, the chain experienced a steady decline and ultimately closed down entirely in the late 2000s.

Burger Chef

In the early days, when the original “Star Wars” movie first hit the theaters, it wasn’t McDonald’s but Burger Chef, a popular burger chain with over 1,000 restaurants in the 70s, that teamed up for its initial merchandise. Despite a decline throughout the 80s, Burger Chef remains significant in fast food lore; they actually introduced their own version of the Happy Meal (called “Funmeal”) over five years before McDonald’s did.

Chi-Chi’s

From the 1970s through the 1980s, Chi-Chi’s, named after one of its founders’ wives, flourished. By the 1990s, the company ran over 200 restaurants and Hormel Foods licensed their name for a popular range of tortilla chips and salsas. Although these products continue to be sold in grocery stores, the restaurants ceased operation by the mid-2000s, not long after they were linked to a significant hepatitis outbreak. It seems that people generally prefer not to dine at restaurants associated with such health concerns.

Dive!

Steven Spielberg: Renowned movie director and… sandwich creator, at one point in time. In the 1990s, Spielberg ventured into the world of sandwiches with his own Los Angeles shop, Dive!, which was themed underwater, featuring a massive yellow submarine as its exterior decoration. The submarine-themed eatery served unique sandwiches such as a soft shell crab sandwich and a “Nuclear Sicilian Sub Rosa,” an offering that remained mysterious to many. Despite the opening of a second Dive! in Las Vegas, both establishments closed by the early 2000s.

Don Pablo’s

If you’ve never dined at Chi-Chi’s, it’s likely that you visited a Don Pablo’s instead. In the late 1990s, Don Pablo’s was the second largest Mexican and Tex-Mex chain in the country. However, its success didn’t persist; despite offering a variety of tacos and fajitas, the company filing for bankruptcy in the 2000s ultimately led to the closure of the last Don Pablo’s outlet in 2019.

Fashion Cafe

As the All-Star Cafe was gaining popularity, I too became part of an exciting venture: a chain of Fashion Cafes featuring high-profile models as frontwomen. With the support of Elle Macpherson, Naomi Campbell, and an extensive seven-page menu, we launched our flagship cafe in New York City. However, despite these promising beginnings, our dream didn’t last long; within three years, our doors were closed once more.

The Ground Round

Initially starting as a subsidiary of the renowned Howard Johnson’s hotel and restaurant chain, The Ground Round was well-known for its extensive menu of traditional American dishes and the complimentary basket of popcorn provided upon seating. At its peak, it operated over 200 locations. However, in the face of growing competition within the casual dining sector, the company faced financial difficulties, leading to bankruptcy filing in 2004. Although the chain is largely defunct today, a small number of independently-run Ground Rounds continue to operate, primarily in North Dakota. If you find yourself in the region and craving Cajun tortellini or Caribbean sizzling sirloin tips, consider doing a Google search. I only wish they still serve popcorn with your meal.

Howard Johnson’s

For decades, Howard Johnson’s original owners have faced the same harsh treatment as the Ground Round. Although the company continues to manage numerous hotels, it was once the leading restaurant chain in the United States. Now, unfortunately, its restaurant business no longer exists (with the last one shutting down in 2022). If you’re intrigued and want to explore an unusual online journey, give a search for Howard Johnson’s Children’s Menu. You’ll come across some peculiar dishes they used to offer children, such as the “Humpty Dumpty,” which consisted of a “Small Tuna Fish Salad, Egg, and Tomato on Crisp Lettuce, Potato Chip Garnish, Roll, and Butter, Ice Cream, Sherbet or Gelatin” accompanied by a drink – all for just 95 cents. Delicious!

Kenny Rogers Roasters

In the iconic episode of Seinfeld, Kramer and Jerry became hooked on the chicken served at Kenny Rogers Roasters, transforming country music legend Kenny Rogers into a fast-food sensation in the 90s. Despite U.S. locations of his restaurants having closed down, there are still over 100 international outlets running. It’s high time for Kramer and Jerry to pack their bags for a flight to Malaysia!

Lone Star Steakhouse

Among the distinctive traits of this steakhouse chain is their tradition: each table receives a bucket of roasted peanuts, and customers are invited to toss the shells on the floor. Children find this amusing, but it’s questionable whether parents share the same sentiment, given that dining in a restaurant where the floor is often messy might not be appealing. It is said that only one (1) Lone Star location remains open in Guam, while the rest have closed and vanished long ago.

One unique characteristic of this steakhouse chain involves serving peanuts at every table and allowing customers to throw the shells on the floor. Kids seem to enjoy the freedom to create a mess, although it’s debatable whether their parents share the same sentiment, considering eating in a restaurant with a regularly dirty floor might not be an enjoyable experience. It is rumored that only one (1) Lone Star still operates in Guam, while the others have closed and faded away long ago.

Marvel Mania

Check out this interesting fact: Marvel’s first themed restaurant opened three years prior to X-Men, right here at Universal Studios Hollywood. As you can see in this photo, the Hulk costume character made his grand entrance back then. The food at Marvel Mania (which I begged my parents to take me to) was nothing special, but the decor, including a life-sized Iron Man armor, was a dream come true for any Marvel fan at the time. Sadly, the mediocre food seemed to outshine the cool Marvel memorabilia, and the restaurant closed before it could expand to another location.

Morrison’s

At one point, numerous Morrison’s Cafeterias dotted the American South, each providing a wide array of dishes. As I discovered from an old YouTube ad, their fried shrimp, seafood au gratin, baked fillet, fried fish, fried scallops, blackened fillets, along with any two vegetables, bread, and butter made for a substantial meal! (Indeed, it was quite a feast!) In 1998, they were acquired by one of their rivals, Piccadilly, who subsequently closed most of the restaurants—though there seems to be one still in operation in Mobile, Alabama. Does anyone fancy some seafood au gratin now?

NASCAR Cafe

Nothing beats the aroma of motor oil and diesel fuel, but it seems even NASCAR’s charm couldn’t keep the NASCAR Cafe running forever. Despite its flagship location in the Sahara Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and a thrilling roller coaster, Speed: The Ride, the cafe didn’t last long. As for the food, it seems racing-themed dishes were nowhere to be found on their menus online, although I must admit the authentic NASCAR decor was truly impressive, with full-size race cars lining the walls.

Old Country Buffet

Restaurants serving endless meals have always been popular, especially during the 1980s and ’90s when buffets featuring extensive menus and affordable prices flourished. One of the most successful among them was Old Country Buffet. However, these types of restaurants struggled to adapt in a pandemic-ridden world where food delivery became essential. With their large food trays resembling more biohazards than attractive offerings, it wasn’t long before their corporate owners were forced to close establishments like Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet in the early 2020s.

Showbiz Pizza Place

In the 1980s, two colossal entities dominated the pizza/arcade market: Chuck E. Cheese, still around today though undergoing changes to its iconic animatronics, and Showbiz Pizza Place, known for its unique animatronic animal band, The Rock-afire Explosion, which boasts a passionate cult following, so much so that it was the subject of a documentary in 2008. Showbiz and Chuck E. Cheese merged in the mid-1980s, with the Showbiz brand gradually fading away over time. As of now, the show has long since ended.

2025-03-26 00:24