Two of America’s large chain restaurants may soon be combined

Two of America’s large chain restaurants may soon be combined

Two of America’s large chain restaurants may soon be combined.

CBS News reports Applebee’s and IHOP, both owned by Dine Brands Inc., may soon have dual-branded locations that share a back-of-house and a blended front-of-house, according to an earnings call from the company in February.

Dine Brands CEO John Peyton said they’ve already tested out the model on eight “prototypes” internationally, including the newest Applebee’s-IHOP restaurant in Leon, Mexico.

In an interview with Nation’s Restaurant News, Peyton said the hybrid restaurants will have “discrete entrances” that allow guests to flow between Applebee’s and IHOP.

“At breakfast, when there are more IHOP customers, customers can be seated in the Applebee’s area and vice versa at dinner,” he said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity because the two brands are complementary.”