The Applebee's chain was started by T.J. and Bill Palmer who opened their first restaurant, T.J. Applebee’s Rx for Edibles & Elixirs, in Atlanta, Georgia in 1980. After opening their second restaurant the pair sold their company to W.R. Grace and Co in 1983. W.R. Grace and Co. later sold the restaurants, now known as Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, to private investors and the company eventually went public. It currently trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market under APPB.
Applebee's features casual dining serving standard American cuisine. The interiors of Applebees restaurants are usually decorated with memorabilia from sports, entertainment and transportation but always include items of local interest as well to help convey their neighborhood theme.
Applebee's has recently begun international expansion with restaurants in nine countries.