Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar faced a tough few years while struggling to attract millennial customers.The restaurant chain made a comeback in 2018, in part thanks to the Dollarita.Here are 12 things to know about Applebee's.Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar: the restaurant that welcomes people to the neighborhood with late-night appetizers, two-for-$20 meal deals, and gloriously cheap cocktails.Although we voted it a personal favorite, Applebee's has faced a tough few years. But after struggling to attract millennials and closing more than 150 locations between 2017 and 2018, the quick-service restaurant chain made an unexpected comeback in 2018.While you're sipping on a dollar margarita or chowing down on mozzarella sticks, enjoy these 12 facts about one of the world's favorite restaurant chains.1. The founders picked the name out of a phone bookFounders Bill and T.J. Palmer looked for inspiration in a phone book and fell in love with the name "Appleby." After finding there was already a copyright on the name, they changed it to "Applebee's."2. The Palmers considered 2 other names for the restaurantThey considered "Cinnamon's" and "Pepper's" before settling on "Applebee's."3. The first Applebee's opened in AtlantaThe Palmers opened the first Applebee's in Atlanta in 1980.4. Applebee's originally had a drug-store themeThe restaurant's full name when it debuted was "T.J. Applebee's Rx for Edibles & Elixirs."5. By 1989, Applebee's had 100 locationsApplebee's spread across the country and opened 100 locations before the end of the decade. By 1998, they had 1,000 restaurants.6. The biggest Applebee's is 3 stories tallThe world's largest Applebee's sits just north of Times Square in New York City. It may be a whopping 3 stories high, but don't fretyou can get the same great deals as you would at a normal-sized 'Bee's.7. The Dollarita may have saved the restaurant from turmoilWhen all else failed, cheap cocktails saved the day. The Dollarita, Applebee's beloved $1 margaritas, was introduced in October 2017 and kicked off a "cheap drinks revolution" that helped make the restaurant popular again.Read more: We compared meals at Applebee's and TGI Fridays as the chains battle for dominance, and the winner is clear8. Applebee's cocktails are just as unique as they are inexpensiveNow the restaurant chain regularly comes up with new, creative cocktails. In 2018 they served Bahama Mama, Jolly Rancher, and Zombie cocktailsall for just $1 each.9. Applebee's has almost 2,000 locations worldwideApplebee's is the largest casual-dining chain, with almost 2,000 locations around the world. You can find your favorite late-night appetizer deals in places such as Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Guam, and Indonesia.10. Applebee's hosted a New Year's Eve party with $375 ticketsIn 2013, Applebee's hosted a glamorous New Year's Eve party in New York that cost $375 per adult. Kids tickets cost a mere $250. The upscale event featured an open bar, a DJ, and party favors.11. IHOP and Applebee's are sibling restaurantsApplebee's and IHOP are both owned by Dine Brands Global.12. Wanda Sykes once voiced the Applebee's mascotActress and comedian Wanda Sykes once voiced the Applebee's mascot, a talking Red Delicious apple that urged people to get together over dinner.Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.Read more:11 of the best happy hour deals at chain restaurantsApplebee's is making a comeback by ditching food that people 'can't pronounce'16 restaurant chains you once loved that you'll likely never be able to eat at againJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Bud Light's 'Dilly Dilly' just made a comeback at the Super Bowl with a weird crossover ad with Game of Thrones ' here's what the phrase means
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