Applebee's in Arroyo Grande closes its doors

Applebee's restaurant in Arroyo Grande is closed as of Monday, a spokesperson for the chain has confirmed.

The Applebee's franchisee AmRest is closing all three of its restaurants — the Arroyo Grande location at 1462 E. Grand Ave., as well as one each in New Mexico and Colorado, said Applebee's spokesperson Dan Smith.

Apple American Group, the franchisee that owns the Applebee's locations in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, was at the Arroyo Grande restaurant Monday to offer interviews for employment at those locations, Smith said.

Nearly all 2,000 Applebee's locations nationwide are not operated by the company, but rather by franchisees.

Smith did not know how many employees worked at the Arroyo Grande location.

“The closure of any restaurant is a disappointment, but the closing of these restaurants is a result of specific circumstances to these locations, and not indicative of a broader brand issue,” Smith said. He said he could not address what the specific circumstances were that caused the Arroyo Grande closure.

A call to AmRest for comment was not immediately returned Monday.

This story was originally published May 13, 2013 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Applebee's in Arroyo Grande closes its doors."