Shares of Dine Brands, which owns Applebee's and IHOP, surged more than 12 percent Thursday, to $99.49, after the company's fourth-quarter results showed signs of an unmistakable comeback at . Now were the fifth-largest Applebees franchisee in the country all of a sudden, Rolph said. His family has known Jim Stevens for decades. Rated 5.00 out of 5. We are extremely excited to greet our neighbors in Virginia, serving delicious food while creating the ideal dining experience where warmth, stellar service and bold flavors are a given.. She has been known to just show up and help those perhaps less privileged at local establishments simply by offering a monetarily-tangible hand as well. Let Flhip.com Help You Get in the Door First of Those New Restaurants. The family influence on the business doesnt stop with Chris. Revenue among the 200 operators has grown at a compound annual rate of 8 percent since 2009, compared to 4 percent for the overall industry. Established in 1980. The servers, who received a federal minimum wage of $2.13 per hour as tipped employees, allege that the company requires them to spend 20% of their time doing non-serving labor, for which they should be paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. CUPS OF QUESO . Make sure you have a culture that rewards decision-making and leadership," said Garrett. View history. Yum acquired The Habit in January 2020. He also bought another 20 Applebees restaurants from Neighborhood Hospitality, with restaurants in West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and eastern Kentucky. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 10:43, "John Cywinski named Applebee's brand president", "Applebee's hires new chief culinary officer to lead menu revamp", "Why is Applebee's Called Applebee's? In 1998, the company became Liberty Tax, Inc. SSCP is an award-winning restaurant leader with over 400 restaurants nationwide including 80 Applebees, 45 Sonic-Drive-Ins, parent company of Roys fine dining, and franchisor of Cicis Pizza Buffet. Last month,Jim Stevens soldhis 22 Applebees restaurants, and it turns out the buyer is local:Applebees franchiseeJon Rolph and hisThrive Restaurant Group. Operators across the list keep buying restaurants and becoming more and more efficient. "Being a part of Applebee's since 2022, my very first interaction with the brand owners gave me an insight into the brand's history and strength. Information pours in from Apple-Metros six area directors, each of whom oversee six restaurants, and issues are sifted through by Seervai, who talks them over with Tankel. TACOS SOLD ANNUALLY . Since its foundation in 1983 Applebee's franchise has won several awards including Franchisee of the ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FRANCHISE, Distributorship Opportunities For Business, the terms of "Since the recession, restaurant franchisees have had greater access to capital than at any point Ive seen in in my 37 years in the restaurant business," wrote John Hamburger, president of Franchise Times and the Restaurant Finance Monitor. In each he walks straight to the kitchen and talks to the dishwasher. So, the yearly income that Applebee's franchisees ultimately earn is likely to be noticeably less. Franchisee Lists are some of the best lead lists you can get your hands on and because there are so many types of franchises in so many different industries and niche markets, no matter what kind of leads your We have three ideas right now in the hopper.. The company began in 1997 when John Hewitt, co-founder of Jackson Hewitt, acquired, U&R Tax Depot. Part of Roark Capital Group like CKE Restaurants and Focus Brands, Inspire Brands changed its name from Arby's Restaurant Group in 2018. Applebees Franchise for Sale - Bar and Grill Restaurant, Interested? Flynn Restaurant Group reported $1.8 billion from 485 Applebee's, 232 Taco Bells and 97 Panera Bread restaurants. Rolph and Stevens served on a YMCA board together, and after one meeting, Rolph pulled Stevens aside. Not for long, though. support. The younger Dharod is widely credited with creating the dollar cocktail craze, when he introduced his valued guests to the DOLLARITA margaritas for a buck at his Texas Applebees restaurants. Applebee's Restaurants LLC. If you love it youll be good at it, and if you love it and youre good at it, you dont need to run from it. Different concepts have different expectations," said Greg Hamer of B&G Food Enterprises (No. Global Franchise Group is an affiliate of Lion Capital LLP and Serruya Private Equity, Inc. HFC was purchased by JM Family Enterprises Inc. in July 2019. There have been four key things: Refranchising, capital, technology and culture. Dine Brands Global is one of the world's largest full service restaurant companies in the world, and franchises two iconic brands, Applebee's and IHOP. Despite hesitation by some franchisees to participate, the promotions were associated with a major increase in traffic at some locations, and prompted the chain to offer similar promotions later on. [7] As part of the transaction, Bill Palmer was named president of the Applebee's Division, an indirect subsidiary of W. R. Grace and Company. Three groups reported more than $1 billion in top line revenue in 2016. The Applebees deals initially were both supposed to close April 15. I know if theyve got this one down, everything else is a slam dunk.. With all of the shuffling, it can be hard to remember which franchises are owned by which parent company, as well as which franchises are technically sibling companies. If you ever go to sell, will you please call us? he asked. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. This article is a list of principal owners of National Basketball Association teams: Franchise. [41], As part of the company's marketing campaign and slogan, Wanda Sykes was hired in 2007 to voice the chain's new mascot, the Applebee's Apple. Certainly there were refranchising programs and restaurant sales before, but when interest rates plummeted and Wall Street put a premium on royalty income, brands played along. Rated 0 out of 5 $ 295 Download; IHOP Franchisee Owners List. The Applebee's concept focuses on casual dining, with mainstream American dishes such as salads, chicken, pasta, burgers, and "riblets" (Applebee's signature dish). Articles by Nicholas Upton; Research by Matt Haskin and Dan Schierman. The company also is the parent company of Franchise Real Estate, Healthy Contributions, ProVision Security, and Pump One. Nick knows the ins and outs of the restaurant business like no one else and can analyze an SEC filing, a bankruptcy case and a franchise disclosure document, too. To get a sense of what a successful restaurant franchisee goes through on a daily basis, we checked in with Zane Tankel, owner and operator of Apple-Metro, an organization that runs Applebees restaurants in the New York City area. Thrive Restaurant Group acquires 42 Applebee's restaurants, By Carrie Rengers - Wichita Eagle Article, Tour the new HomeGrown and Peace, Love & Pie, Thrive Restaurant Group is opening a downtown HomeGrown and Peace, Love & Pie on December 17, 2019. The drinks would serve as a loss leader, with customers subsequently upsold towards higher-priced food products. pasta, chicken, burgers, and "riblets." KFC Franchise Owners List. . As such, we routinely review our restaurant owners contact lists to ensure all franchisee contact information is accurate and up-to-date. Slumping tech and property activity arent yet pushing the broader economy into recession. Tankel has no end-of-day rituals to unwind, or put distance between himself and his work. 3 on the list, Dhanani group added $229 million to eke into the billion-dollar club. "Operations have to be separated as much as possible. In 1996, PIP was acquired by Sir Speedy and Franchise Services, Inc. was formed. Thats only the beginning of the story, though. Tankel is also a founding director of the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, a not-for-profit that provides financial assistance to federal and local law enforcement agencies. The Applebees markets under the direction of SSCP now include Martinsville, Wytheville, Salem, Rocky Mount, Norton, Roanoke, Radford, Danville, Lynchburg, Lexington, South Boston and Galax. SSCP and its affiliates also own 46 Sonic Drive-Ins, the Roys Hawaiian Fusion brand and as of earlier this year, the Cicis Pizza brand. Dont miss an opportunity to learn more about exciting franchise brands and get the inside intel on franchising! 1,465 Likes, 179 Comments - Tamika D. Mallory (@tamikadmallory) on Instagram: "I have a thought on this one why don't we get a list of all the McDonald's franchise owners and" While synergies emerge, each brand still has to operate like its own entity. Were grateful to have these stores, he said. The Applebee's concept focuses on casual dining, with mainstream American dishes such as salads, chicken, pasta, burgers, and "riblets" (Applebee's signature dish). Musikantow is listed on an Illinois website as one of the top deadbeat dads. Pujas philanthropic efforts have also gone viral on social media platforms including Instagram and Tik Tok. Get verified contact details for owners of single and multi-unit franchises from top restaurant franchise brands in the United States. dollars. The casual restaurant chain is booming with success and poised to grow when more pandemic restrictions lift, CNN Businessreports, and the company believes that its franchisees will directly benefit. 85). I think we're winning because our menu is innovative, our value is best in as the slogan appears at the bottom right of the screen. This year, the top 200 added 7.2 percent in total units but added 8.4 percent in revenue, showing that with the right system, efficiencies emerge. Our report consists of ranking companies according to revenue generated by the companys franchised restaurants. The chain and beverage had been mentioned in Walker Hayes' song "Fancy Like",[47] which was subsequently featured in a new Applebee's commercial as well. The name Appleby was their first choice for this concept, but they found that it had already been registered. Few, if any, operators are on the Restaurant 200 today that built all their restaurants. ", "Social Media's Power is No Joke! Best Life Brands was created in 2019 as the umbrella organization for franchises "focused on the well-being of clients at any stage of life." Bloomin' Brands Year Formed: 1988 Based In: Tampa, Florida Main Franchise Industry: Food Franchise Brands: Bonefish Grill Carraba's Italian Grill Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Outback Steakhouse Panera Brands was formed by Luxembourg-based holding company JAB Holding Company, which had acquired each of the brands separately in previous years. That early morning data, he says, can dramatically affect the rest of the day. I give them the credit for itme.. Franchise Business Review notes that Applebee's franchise operators of United States restaurants that are at least two years old take home $120,000. To get a sense of what a successful restaurant franchisee goes through on a daily basis, we checked in with Zane Tankel, owner and operator of Apple-Metro, an organization that runs Applebee's . Look Good Brands was established in July 2019 when the founders of Deka Lash acquired Legends Boxing. Empire Franchise Group was created with the acquisition of Franchise Genies by the leaders of Detroit Equities and Rising Phoenix Group. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. The food franchise holding company has been owned by Canadian franchisor MTY Food Group since 2016. Applebees makes it easy for familyand friends to connect with one another, whether its in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin Good in the Neighborhood is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday. That makes a total of 81 Applebees restaurants for Thrive. Colleges in Europe are generally much less expensive, although going to school there may require a new mind-set. Principal Owner (s) Operating Entities. For lunch, Tankel tours his restaurants. Our mission is to empower veterinary owners and practice managers to reach their goals faster. Its getting harder and harder to get on the coveted Restaurant 200 list these A-list operators generated $37.5 billion in revenue last year and operated just under 27,000 restaurants. Daughter/sister Puja Dharod, a principal and director at SSCP, is the muscle in the companys philanthropic arm. The franchise company that owns 25 Applebee's restaurants in Wisconsin wants to end the bankruptcy case it started last month. The company currently operates Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, but is only franchising Chilis at the moment. The second-largest franchise owner of Applebee's restaurants filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday. Browse popular restaurant owner contact lists below. Sign up to Stock Advisor for $79 for 1 year, Save 15% on orders of $100+ with Kohl's coupon. Dine Brands Global trades under the . Son Chris, now the president of SSCP, is creating a name for himself. "Now we're the fifth-largest Applebee's franchisee in the country all of a sudden," Rolph said. Watch for a few more billion-dollar operations next year. $ 295 $ 199 Download; Denny's Franchisee Owners List. [6] They opened their first location in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time named T.J. Applebee's Rx for Edibles & Elixirs. After he joined in 2002 and took over leadership in 2011, I started wanting to grow.. Below are 58 of the most well-known franchise parent companies (in alphabetical order) along with which brands fall under their respective umbrellas. Applebee's locations in the New York metropolitan region. For companies that did not respond to our survey, we confirmed the number of units operated by their company, and then estimated the revenue. SSCP Management is owned by Sunil Dharod, a Dallas businessman and philanthropist. Family-controlled Dillards has combined share buybacks with keeping costs down, inventory tight and staff engaged with nearly fanatical customers. There are certain dishes that I use as a barometer, a benchmark on how the restaurants performing overall, he explained. In 2019, the company changed its name to Franchise Group, Inc. and began acquiring other companies. With that, he said Thrive can really go as fast and as far as it wants. Our business is vibrant and we are continuing to outperform established peers. Thanks for sharing your details, well be in touch shortly. Since 1980, we've been bringing great food and big smiles to Alaska neighborhoods. The winners include: Abe Gustin Franchisee of the Year: The Rose Group This award, in honor of the man who helped Applebee's become one of the nation's most iconic brands in casual dining, recognizes a franchisee that embodies what it means to be Eatin' Good and Doin' Good in the Neighborhood. Applebee's Initial Investment Initial Investment: $2,009,038 - $8,267,250 Ongoing Fees Initial Franchise Fee: $35,000 Ongoing Royalty Fee: 4% Ongoing Royalty Fee: 4%. End-to-end digital infrastructure and sophisticated point of sale systems have made it easy to track sales, ticket times, labor and food costs in nearly real time from anywhere with a cell signal. Browse our most popular restaurant franchise owner contact lists below and start reaching out to qualified franchisee leads today! How Much Applebee's Franchise Owners Really Make Per Year. FirstService Brands is part of FirstService Corporation, which is based in Toronto. The company also owns a 50% stake in Panda Express Philippines, and a 47% stake in Tortas Frontera. [citation needed] In 2009 Applebee's changed its slogan again to "There's no place like the neighborhood. From 10 a.m. to noon, Tankel focuses on everything in his life that is not Applebees related. They grew to 25 stores and were comfortable with that for a long time, Jon Rolph said. A new campaign started on February 25, 2008, without Sykes' character (the spokesapple), with the slogan "It's a whole new neighborhood." . The company started in 1980 in Decatur, Georgia, as a pub style restaurant Guide to Selecting Buying and Owning A Franchise. with a friendly service and lower prices than their competition. And that's before tax and other expenses are taken into account such as a 4% royalty fee to Applebee's. The whole creative aspect of our business is one of my favorite parts of our business, said Rolph, who was a film major in college. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact The reality is that franchise businesses require intense monitoring and a lot of hard work. Find Lists of Contact Details for Franchise Owners, Chick-Fil-A Franchisee Mailing and Email List. About Applebee's - History, Community, Team, & Franchising ABOUT US It all started in 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia Bill and TJ Palmer opened the restaurant that would later become Applebee's. We've grown up a lot since then, with almost 2,000 locations in the U.S. and around the world. Tankel says he takes this call every single day, even while on vacation, to keep abreast of everything going on. Our annual Restaurant 200 franchisee research includes questionnaires, phone surveys, and in some cases, a review of public documents such as annual reports, 10Ks and FDDs. Knoxville, Tennessee Area. Russian advances into the northern suburbs of Bakhmut are placing severe pressure on Ukrainian forces there, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said Saturday in its bleakest assessment yet of the situation in the embattled eastern city. Rolph said he thinks Thrive can create a new brand every other year for the next six or seven years, and then there likely will be other new concepts to explore. - In currency of the United Kingdom, the investment comes around 1,45 to 5,96 million. He said the two sides of the business complement each other. Dine Brands Global, Inc. through its subsidiaries, franchises restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar brand and the IHOP brand. According to The Grubwire, the average Applebee's restaurant achieves an astonishing annual sales of over $2.4 million. He became an Applebee's franchisee in 1985. / Photograph: Shutterstock "Thats where the challenge lies: How do you maintain operating discipline that is critically important to the small and midsize franchiseehow do you avoid losing that culture to a bureaucratic monster you need to run 600 stores," said Chris Kelleher, managing director at Auspex Capital. Call us direct at (855) 822-0912, Find Restaurant Owners Mailing Lists and Contact Info, Verified Contact Details for US Restaurant Franchise Owners, Rated Excellent on TrustPilot with feedback from 50+ customers, owners of single and multi-unit franchises. Last month, Jim Stevens sold his 22 Applebees restaurants. Under the collective lead of team Dharod, that will not change with the new acquisition in Virginia. Applebee's is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world's largest full-service restaurant companies. Atlanta Hawks. We are excited to continue to grow the Applebees brand and our collective business, said SSCP President Chris Dharod. When you have a licensed premisesliquorpeople walk in lambs and turn into lions while theyre drinking, says Tankel. Five Star is backed by Princeton Equity Group. This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Applebee research. RBI is owned by the following investment companies: 3G Capital (the majority owner), Pershing Square and Berkshire Hathaway. About Us; Our Brands; . As one of the worlds largest casual dining brands, Applebees Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as Americas kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebee's is the largest casual dining chain in the world with sales of $4.7 billion in 2006. But factoring in monetary expenditures such as the significant initial investment requirements, what are the financial rewards of operating an Applebee's franchise? In that capacity, Palmer guided the operation from its entrepreneurial beginnings to a full-fledged franchise system. 3 on the list, Dhanani group added $229 million to eke into the billion-dollar club. Owned by private equity firm Roark Capital Group, CKE Restaurants was founded in 1966 with the opening of Carls Jr. Lapels Dry Cleaning formed Clean Franchise Brands by acquiring Martinizing Dry Cleaning, 1-800-DryClean, Pressed4time, Dry Cleaning Station and Bizziebox with equity partner Greybull. .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 103 McDonald's 44 RMH Franchise Holdings Atlanta, GA 131 Applebee's 45 Fourteen Foods Eden Prairie, MN 244 Dairy Queen 46BurgerBusters Virginia Beach, VA 153 Taco Bell 10 Pizza Hut $175-$225 Million $150-$175 Million $225-$325 Million 47Sailormen Miami, FL 115 Popeyes 24 Burger King 48*Manna Development Group Encinitas, CA 130 Panera Bread Applebee's to sell its 69 company-owned restaurants The sale of the locations in North and South Carolina will make the chain 100% franchised for the first time since 2018. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Here's How He Did It He bought his first Applebee's 20 years ago, and since then has redefined what's possible in the franchise industry. [17], In 2013, the chain faced an uproar on the Internet after firing a waitress who posted a picture of a customer's receipt that had a rude note written on it objecting to a required gratuity, and then poorly handling their response to the incident. SSCP, routinely a Top-50 member of the Franchise Times Restaurant list of the largest U.S. franchisees annually, has always actively sought community involvement via its respective brands by supporting local schools and organizations through fundraisers and mutually-beneficial partnerships. Some functions like safety and accounting functions can be combined but operations has to be specific to the particular concept.". The Biden administration is preparing a new program that could prohibit American investment in certain sectors in China, a step to guard U.S. technological advantages amid a growing competition between the worlds two largest economies. It runs an asset-light business model, with franchisees operating most of the company's restaurants. Applebee's Restaurants LLC. However, in franchising there has been a tidal wave of mergers and acquisitions in the past few years. - In Saudi Arabia currency, the investment comes around SR 7,54 to SR 31,01 million. International Franchising Opportunities. Our casual atmosphere and attentive staff will make sure you're eatin' good whenever you step into a Alaska Applebee's. Our extensive menu of delicious comfort food is sure to have something for everyone to love. Noontime brings a more in-depth call with his director of operations to discuss the previous evenings events and numbers. [38][39][40], As of December 31, 2019, there were 1,787 restaurants operating system-wide in the United States and 15 other countries, including 69 that are company owned and 1,718 that are franchised. For years Applebee's has embraced neighborhood culture, providing high-quality food . [42] The character appears in commercials touting Applebee's various specials and stating the new slogan "Together is good" or saying "Get it together, baby!" https://www.wsj.com/articles/applebees-franchise-owner-files-for-bankruptcy-1525794859. Athletics has always been important to the restaurateur. The Applebee's chain was founded by Bill and T. J. Palmer in 1980. Applebee's POS Software License Fee: Applebee's point of sale license is currently $2,500 per site. While he loves the creativity that comes with new concepts, the franchise business is important to Thrive, too. Historically low interest rates also meant ample capital to buy all those refranchised restaurants. In 1986, the name of the concept was changed to Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar. Since the opening of Outback Steakhouse in 1988, food franchisor Bloomin Brands has grown to also include Bonefish Grill, Carrabas Italian Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Xponential Fitness bills itself as the largest curator of boutique fitness brands in the world. Backed by Snapdragon Capital, the company grew quickly by acquiring five of its brands in 2018. In some cases where an acquisition took place during the year, we derive pro-forma revenue in calculating the companys ranking. Dine Brands was formed after IHOP bought Applebees. In addition, MTY is the parent company of Kahala Brands (see above). However, franchise earnings clearly can't be too bad, as The Grubwire reports that "franchising is a big part of the Applebee's story" the story of a company that has nearly 2,000 restaurants worldwide (via Applebee's). Its just really helpful to have these here.. Dine Brands' new CEO Steve Joyce credited the promotions with having helped influence a major financial turnaround at the company, noting that almost all customers who ordered one also ordered food, and that some customers also moved towards the other cocktails on its menu. Download the 2017 Franchise Times' Restaurant 200 here. If there are any big anomalies, my next call is to Neesha Seervai, our chief operating officer and director of operations. Applebees continues to be the leader in casual dining. By Joe Guszkowski on Aug. 09, 2022 Applebee's will return to a fully franchised model this year with the sale of 69 corporate stores. And at No. The largest operators took advantage of a massive refranchising push that became the norm during the recession. Formerly the Dwyer Group, Neighborly (name changed in 2018) is the holding company of over 30 home service brands (most of which are currently franchising). East Coast Wings + Grill Signs Franchise Agreement to Expand in Clemson, SC, ClearCOGS Unveils ChatGPT AI Operations Manager Live in Las Vegas, Uno Restaurants Strikes Deal To Sell Its Uno Foods Division to Great Kitchens, Celebrate Jersey Mikes 13th Annual Month of Giving in March. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar offers a lively casual dining experience combining simple, craveable American fare, classic drinks and local drafts. $ 249 $ 199 Download; Panera Franchisee Owners List. Applebees Franchise is a chain of bar and grill restaurants which serve popular American menu including salads, our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. | Rewind & Capture", "12 things you didn't know about Applebee's", "10 Things You Didn't Know About Applebee's", "Humble origins of 10 favorite restaurants", "Hoover's Company Locations and Addresses: Applebee's International, Inc", "A Shift in Dining Scene Nicks a Once-Hot Chain", "Applebee's, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Dec 5, 2007", "IHOP Corp. ServiceMaster was originally founded as a moth-proofing company. You have permission to edit this article. [9] In 1989, Applebee's opened their 100th restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee.[10]. Propelled Brands was formed when FASTSIGNS International, Inc. bought NerdsToGo. Sign up here to get the latest franchise opportunity updates and more delivered directly to your inbox. [15] The combined company became the largest full-service restaurant company in the world, with more than 3,250 locations. $8,267,250. On an average day, Tankel, who is 73, wakes up around 6:30 a.m. at his home in Alpine, New Jersey, and by 7 a.m. enjoys a healthy breakfasta veggie shakeand reviews reports of goings on at each of his restaurants the night before, including the sales and earnings figures. SSCP always strives to provide the best experience for its guests through superior service and outstanding food. The company offers favourable conditions for their They opened a second location outside of Atlanta, Georgia a few years later, and sold the company to W. R. Grace and Company in 1983. Winmark is a company that specializes in resale retail franchises, though its franchises do sell some new items as well. Rolph said after doing three HomeGrown sites in Wichita in three years, hes ready to take the concept out of market next year. Just Ask Applebee's! APPLE AMERICAN GROUP Apple American Group is the largest Applebee's franchisee, operating 441 restaurants across 23 states. Applebees has the franchise fee of up to $35,000, with total initial investment range of $2,009,038 to $8,267,250. [36][37], In-late 2017, Applebee's began to place an increased focus on promotions involving low-cost cocktails, including a $1 margarita promotion dubbed the "Dollarita" in October, and $1 Long Island iced tea (promoted as "L.I.T.s") in December. [12] In 1998, Applebee's opened its 1000th restaurant. On July 16, 2007, IHOP Corp. announced that it agreed to buy Applebee's International for about $2.1 billion. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images. Shes a morning person, shes a heat-seeking missile and shes already got answers., Issues worthy of discussion can include cost spikes at certain locations at certain times of night, logistical or even whether altercations took place at one of the restaurants. Applebee's restaurant at Times Square in New York. So were always on the lookout, and we try to be patient and look for the right opportunities at the right times.. This business is not a "one size fits all" type of concept. It is part of Flynn Restaurant Group which also operates 282 Taco Bells, 130 Paneras, 369 Arby's, 941 Pizza Huts, and 192 Wendy's, making it the largest restaurant franchisee in the US. Banks enjoy lending to operators buying companies with a track record especially, fueling both refranchising and a current flurry of M&A activity.