Applebee's Closing Calexico Location After More Than Two Decades

The Applebee's restaurant at 2505 Scaroni Road in Calexico, California, will permanently shut its doors on June 16.

Apple Core Enterprises Inc., the Minot, North Dakota-based franchisee operating the location, confirmed the closure.

The restaurant, which has served the border community for over 20 years, sits roughly 10.5 miles southeast of El Centro in California's Imperial Valley.

“Our Applebee's restaurant at 2505 Scaroni Road will close on June 16,” said Apple Core CEO Dusty Jensen in a statement.

He added that the company greatly appreciates the Calexico community's patronage over the past 22 years and looks forward to continuing to serve customers at its nearby El Centro location at 2421 North Cottonwood.

Area director Mark Giroux told local reporters that the restaurant's lease is ending and the franchise owner was not satisfied with the terms offered for renewal.

A similar lease-related closure announcement occurred in 2019, but the location remained open at that time.

The closure is expected to affect around 30 employees.

Details on whether staff will have the option to transfer to other Apple Core locations were not immediately available in the company's public statements.

This latest shutdown comes amid a broader pattern of Applebee's locations closing across the United States in recent years.

The chain, owned by Dine Brands Global, has seen franchisees navigate challenges including rising operational costs, shifting consumer habits, and lease expirations.

Earlier in 2026, multiple locations closed in states such as Indiana, Missouri, and New York, with some franchise groups filing for bankruptcy protection.

Applebee's has described such moves as part of routine portfolio management in a mature restaurant system.

The Calexico site had continued to operate as a standard Applebee's Grill + Bar, offering the chain's signature menu items including appetizers, burgers, steaks, and cocktails.

Online listings and delivery platforms showed it remained active until recent days.

Local residents have expressed mixed reactions on community forums and social media, with some noting the restaurant's long presence as a gathering spot while others pointed to changing economic conditions in the area.

No official comment from Applebee's corporate on additional California closures was available as of June 9.

The property at 2505 Scaroni Road is now expected to transition following the closure, though specific future plans for the site have not been disclosed.

Customers seeking the nearest alternative can visit the El Centro restaurant mentioned by the franchisee.