First Applebee's® Restaurant In Hawaii Opens On October 3, Bringing America's Neighborhood Grill And Bar To All 50 States

Ewa Beach, Oahu Location Represents a Milestone in the Brand's 36-Year History

New Restaurant Expected to Create 136 Local Jobs and Will Hold a Month of Fundraising in Support of Make-A-Wish® Hawaii

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Sep 29, 2016, 07:07 ET

HONOLULU and GLENDALE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Applebee's® Grill and Bar began with a single restaurant in suburban Atlanta in 1980. It has since grown to one of America's most popular restaurants with over 2,000 locations in 49 states, two U.S. territories and 17 countries, but there has never been a location in Hawaii—until now.

On October 3, Applebee's marks a milestone, when Hawaii—the last remaining state in the Union without an Applebee's—gets its first restaurant in Ewa Beach on Oahu.

Hawaii's first Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar opens Oct. 3, 2016.

Applebee's celebrates the opening of the first Hawaii location with a ribbon cutting

The new Applebee's restaurant will feature the brand's new American-made, wood-fired grill menu which includes certified USDA Choice steaks and bone-in pork chops that are hand-cut in-house, as well as chicken, shrimp and salad entrees that benefit from the smoky fresh taste of food being grilled over American oak wood.

A second Applebee's location is already planned to open next year at the Ka Makana Alii Mall in West Oahu.

Applebee's will also bring the tradition of helping the neighborhood to Hawaii by sponsoring a month of fundraising activities for Make-A-Wish® Hawaii, which grants wishes for children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. Beginning in mid-September, the restaurant will offer the charity's "Stars" for purchase in restaurant, and will contribute $1 from each sale of a designated Applebee's menu item, among other fundraising activities. These events will culminate with a ceremony where a very special surprise will be revealed to a local Wish child.

"For 36 years, Applebee's has been America's first choice neighborhood grill and bar, for guests all across the United States, and increasingly, around the world—with one exception, our great 50^th state," said Daniel del Olmo, President, International, DineEquity Inc., the parent company of Applebee's. "I am delighted that as of today, we can say 'Aloha' to our friends and neighbors in Oahu and welcome them to the first Applebee's in Hawaii."

"We are delighted and honored that we are the franchise partner who at long last, has brought this great brand to Hawaii," said Vince Espino, President, Apple Five-O LLC. "We look forward to welcoming guests to Applebee's and to being a part of the neighborhood—and through our support of Make-A-Wish Hawaii, being a great new neighbor. I know the community will be generous—and in addition to the donations we receive, we plan to match their contributions dollar for dollar!"

This location is expected to bring 136 new jobs to the local economy, and is located at 91-1401 Fort Weaver Road, Ewa Beach. It seats approximately 128 guests and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to midnight, and on Friday and Saturday from 11am to 1am.

About Applebee's®
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar offers a lively bar and grill experience combining hand-crafted drinks and simple, craveable American fare with flair. All Applebee's restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to serving their communities and offering the best in food and drinks with genuine, neighborly service. With more than 2,000 locations now in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and 15 countries, Applebee's is one of the world's largest casual dining brands. Applebee's is franchised by subsidiaries of DineEquity, Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is among the world's largest full-service restaurant companies.

About Make-A-Wish® Hawaii
Since 1982, Make-A-Wish Hawaii has granted life-changing wishes to over 13,000 wish kids and their families. The Hawaii chapter is among the busiest in the nation as it not only grants wishes to keiki on all islands, it also coordinates and hosts the wishes of children from around the world who wish to see Hawaii.

The Make-A-Wish Hawaii chapter aims to grant the wish of each and every Hawaii child with a life-threatening medical condition, and each year the power of a wish extends beyond the children served, into communities at large. With more than 840 volunteers and more than 200 business partners statewide, wishes bring people together and spread hope, strength and joy to all involved.
To learn more about Make-A-Wish Hawaii, visit www.hawaii.wish.org or call 808-537-3118.

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SOURCE Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar