APPLEBEE’S CELEBRATES FRESH NEW LOOK WITH “A NIGHT WITH THE STARS” PARTY FOR FREDERICKSBURG NEIGHBORS

Plank Road restaurant christens its new digs with FREE Appetizers for a Year grand prize, $100 gift card giveaways, food tastings and live music Saturday, June 7

Release, Potomac Family Dining Group:

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar® at 2851 Plank Road in Fredericksburg is serving up a new look, and to celebrate, local residents are invited out for a night of fun at the restaurant on June 7 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Themed “A Night with the Stars,” guests are invited to walk the red carpet up to the completely renovated restaurant and have their pictures taken with life-size standups of some of their favorite celebrities and movie characters. Inside, attendees will receive the royal treatment with giveaways, including five $100 gift cards and one grand prize of FREE Appetizers for a Year*, in addition to food tastings and music by a live DJ.

“Our Night with the Stars party is the perfect way to thank our Fredericksburg neighbors for their long-time support of our restaurant ever since we opened in 1997,” said General Manager Rita Witte. “We love the people of Fredericksburg and could not be more excited and proud to bring them the best Applebee’s has to offer with a completely overhauled restaurant.”

The New Look

The Plank Road location’s head-to-toe makeover—which is taking place while the restaurant is closed Monday, June 2 through the afternoon of Thursday, June 5—is part of Applebee’s nationwide revitalization of its 2,000 restaurants.

The most noticeable changes include installation of two new outdoor light-up Applebee’s signs, as well as replacement of the exterior striped awnings with oversized, contemporary ones that elongate the building and highlight the façade. Inside, Applebee’s removed the pop-culture tchotchkes and added photos and murals of local landmarks, including historic Civil War battle sites, and sports teams, such as the James Monroe High School Yellow Jackets and the Mary Washington University Eagles, giving the restaurant a distinctly neighborhood feel.

Guests will also appreciate changes beyond bricks and mortar. New kitchen procedures mean guests receive fresh, hot meals faster than ever. Kitchen staff retraining will emphasize the finer culinary points in preparing the restaurant’s most popular entrees. The company will also be recertifying team members to deliver superior service in a way that is uniquely Applebee’s.

The Plank Road restaurant is part of Potomac Family Dining Group, based out of Herndon, Va., which proudly owns and operates 69 Applebee’s throughout Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

FREE Appetizers for a Year Facebook Contest

Plank Road Applebee’s is also continuing the celebration of its fresh new look online via its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ApplebeesPlankRdFredericksburg with another FREE Appetizers for a Year* giveaway. To enter, guests must “like” the page bySunday, June 15 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. A random winner will be selected and notified Monday, June 16.

*Free Appetizers for a Year grand prize good for one (1) FREE appetizer per week for 52 weeks at the 2851 Plank Road location only. Appetizer Sampler and Ultimate Trios excluded.

About Applebee's Services, Inc.

Applebee’s (www.applebees.com) is the world’s largest casual dining chain, with approximately 2,000 locations in 49 states, 15 countries and one U.S. territory. Based in Kansas City, Mo., Applebee’s restaurant takes pride in providing a welcoming, neighborhood environment where everyone can enjoy the dining experience. Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is a DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE:DIN) brand, and is franchised and operated by Applebee’s International, Inc. and its affiliates.