Dine Brands Opens First Dual-Branded Unit in U.S.

Dine Brands Global, the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar, IHOP and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, has announced the grand opening of its first dual-branded Applebee’s/IHOP restaurant in the U.S.

The new restaurant, run by franchisee Ramzi Hakim Group, opened to the public today (Feb. 18) in Seguin, Texas, just outside of San Antonio.

At the Applebee’s/IHOP restaurant guests can order all the classics from IHOP, such as pancakes and breakfast offerings, to Applebee’s boneless wings, burgers and appetizers from morning to late-night. The menu features items from both brands that can be mixed, matched and ordered any time of day, all under one roof. The Seguin location also introduces new, exclusive menu items, like a buffalo chicken omelet and the Ultimate Breakfast Burger, available only at U.S. dual-branded locations.

In the release, Dine Brands’ CEO John Peyton says, “Our international success with this concept has shown that our brand menus complement each other, providing something for everyone, from early mornings to late nights. We are excited to bring this new dining option to Seguin and look forward to expanding it to more communities across the country.”

When guests walk through the doors of this dual-branded location, they will find two distinct dining areas to choose from—Applebee’s or IHOP. The shared common areas, including the host stand and bathrooms, create an integrated experience, and the optimized back-of-house and single kitchen provide operational efficiencies.

Dine Brands currently franchises 13 international dual-branded locations across Canada, Mexico, Honduras and the Middle East. The system is slated to break ground and open 14 more dual-branded locations in the U.S. through 2026 by transforming existing single-branded restaurants and building new locations from the ground up.

In a brief interview with FER, Scott Gladstone, chief development officer and president of international at Dine Brands, shared details on the equipment side of the dual-branded locations.