Teresa Sargeant
Key Points
- The Apopka IHOP will temporarily close on Oct. 4 to convert into Florida's first dual-branded Applebee's/IHOP restaurant at U.S. Highway 441.
- The conversion will introduce Applebee's to Apopka, a city without an existing location of the chain.
- Dine Brands plans to expand to about 80 dual-branded Applebee's/IHOP restaurants across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
The Apopka IHOP will be converted into a dual-branded Applebee’s/IHOP restaurant, bringing both restaurant concepts under one roof at the U.S. Highway 441 location.
The Apopka restaurant will be the first dual-branded Applebee’s/IHOP location in Florida, Cia Abulencia, public relations senior associate with All Points Public Relations, confirmed Monday in an email to The Apopka Chief.
The IHOP at 1120 W. Orange Blossom Trail will temporarily close beginning Oct. 4 for renovations needed for the conversion. A reopening date has not yet been determined. Abulencia said she would provide an update once a date is confirmed.
The conversion will bring Applebee’s to Apopka, where the chain does not currently operate a restaurant.
“We’re looking forward to bringing a dual-branded Applebee’s | IHOP restaurant to Apopka,” Larry Brakefield, president of Sunshine Restaurant Partners, said in a statement provided to The Apopka Chief. “This concept brings together IHOP’s world-famous pancakes and breakfast favorites with Applebee’s boneless wings, burgers and more, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy the best of both brands any time of day, all under one roof. We will continue to share updates as they are confirmed.”
The Apopka conversion comes as Dine Brands Global, the parent company of Applebee’s and IHOP, rapidly expands the dual-branded concept across the United States.
Dine Brands announced Sept. 15 that it was approaching 50 dual-branded restaurants nationwide and expects to have approximately 80 domestic locations by the end of 2026. The company opened the first standalone U.S. dual-branded Applebee’s/IHOP in Seguin, Texas, in February 2025.
At dual-branded locations, customers can order items from both Applebee’s and IHOP from a single menu throughout the day. The restaurants maintain elements of both brands while sharing some spaces and restaurant infrastructure. Dine Brands defines a dual-branded restaurant as one location operating the IHOP and Applebee’s concepts under separate franchise agreements.
The company has expanded the concept in part by converting existing restaurants. During the first quarter of 2026, existing Applebee’s restaurants added IHOP concepts and an existing franchise IHOP added an Applebee’s concept, according to Dine Brands.
The Apopka IHOP opened in July 2019. The restaurant will have operated at the location for more than seven years when it closes for the conversion.