New owners create a buzz at Applebee’s
Largest eatery franchisee takes on six Albuquerque locations
Diners should notice new décor and increased staffing at the six Albuquerque Applebee’s locations. Flynn Restaurant Group acquired the locations in July and is investing approximately $4 million in renovations.
“They’re going to completely be transformed and remodeled,” said Dan Krebsbach, president of Apple American Group, the subsidiary that runs Flynn Applebee’s franchise locations. “We’re hoping to have that accomplished by sometime in late September, certainly by the end of October. Five out of the six locations will have a complete different look from the exterior to the interior.”
Flynn already owns 11 New Mexico Applebee’s locations and over 400 Applebee’s locations total. The Apple American Group is the largest Applebee’s franchisee with 28% of the Applebee’s system, Krebsbach said. With the purchase, Flynn will own most of the New Mexico Applebee’s locations. Another franchisee owns several restaurants near the Texas border, Krebsbach said.
The new owners are focused on increasing staffing levels at the New Mexico locations. An average Applebee’s has a staff of 60, Krebsbach said. The Albuquerque locations are staffed near half those levels, so 20 to 25 staff members could be added at each location. The company plans to hire 100 to 200 additional staff members statewide, but staffing additions will depend on how much the reinvestment in the restaurants increases sales. Higher volume Applebee’s typically employ 80 people, while lower volume locations employ roughly 50.
The Albuquerque Applebee’s pay servers the tipped minimum wage, while cook wages vary on experience. Back of house wages are typically $18 to $26 per hour.
The New Mexico locations Flynn already owned are well staffed, Krebsbach said, so he thinks the Albuquerque locations will be able to attract employees. The key to attracting and retaining restaurant staff is good managers, he said.
“Every restaurant runs with at least four managers. We basically have a threemanager coverage each shift, so you have an opening manager, mid-manager and a closing manager and those managers are there to support the associates,” Krebsbach said. “We work hard to keep our restaurants staffed with managers. If we’re 100% staffed, I want to be 110% staffed, so we constantly focus on that.”
Krebsbach is hopeful that diners who haven’t visited in a while will have a good experience if they return.
“We really feel like for the current associates in these restaurants, it’s just going to be a very positive experience for them, and we’re really looking forward to being a bigger part of the Albuquerque community,” Krebsbach said. “We take a lot of pride in the food and the service that we deliver.”
The Applebee’s are located on Lomas, Yale, Montgomery, Menaul and Coors.