Sponsored By

Applebee’s franchisee adds 21 more restaurants to its portfolioApplebee’s franchisee adds 21 more restaurants to its portfolio

With the acquisition of 21 Applebee’s restaurants from Apple Metro, Doherty Enterprises becomes a top 25 domestic franchisee.

Alicia Kelso, Executive Editor

January 19, 2024

1 Min Read
doherty applebee's
Doherty Enterprises has added 21 more Applebee's restaurants to its portfolio.Photo courtesy of Doherty Enterprises

Doherty Enterprises, which operates more than 160 restaurants in four states, has acquired 21 Applebee’s restaurants in the New York City metro area from fellow Applebee’s franchisee, Apple Metro. The New Jersey-based company has been an Applebee’s franchisee since 1993 and owns and operates 104 locations in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Georgia.

Doherty also owns and operates Panera and Chevys Fresh Mex locations, as well as its own concepts, Shannon Rose Irish Pub and Spuntino Wine Bar. According to the company, this acquisition will move the company to 25th out of the top 200 franchisees in the U.S., according to Restaurant Finance Monitor.

“This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in our company’s journey and aligns with our strategic vision for growth and innovation in the restaurant franchise space,” Doherty’s Chairman/CEO Ed Doherty said in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome the Apple Metro team into the Doherty family, knowing their expertise and commitment will further strengthen our position in the industry.”

Team members currently working in the acquired restaurants will be offered jobs with Doherty, the company noted. According to Apple Metro’s website, the company included 29 Applebee’s restaurants prior to this acquisition, located in New York’s five boroughs and Westchester County.

Related:Doherty Enterprises acquires 38 Applebee's units

As of the end of Q3, there are 1,654 franchised Applebee’s restaurants in the U.S.

Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]

 

About the Author

Alicia Kelso

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Alicia Kelso is the executive editor of Nation's Restaurant News. She began covering the restaurant industry in 2010 for QSRweb.com, FastCasual.com and PizzaMarketplace.com. When her son was born, she left the industry to pursue a role in higher education, but swiftly returned after realizing how much she missed the space. In filling that void, Alicia added a contributor role at Restaurant Dive and a senior contributor role at Forbes.
Her work has appeared in publications around the world, including Forbes Asia, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, Crain's Chicago, Good Morning America and Franchise Asia Magazine.
Alicia holds a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University, where she competed on the women's swim team. In addition to cheering for the BGSU Falcons, Alicia is a rabid Michigan fan and will talk about college football with anyone willing to engage. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her wife and son.

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.