The parent company of the Applebee’s restaurant chain, Glendale, California-based DineEquity Inc., is making plans for the closure of 105 to 135 of the firm’s diner-style restaurants this year. The figure more than doubles the chain’s earlier plan to shutter 40 to 60 locations nationwide. The company also plans to close between 20 and 25 International House of Pancakes restaurants this year. There are currently 154 Applebee’s in Florida as well as 239 IHOP’s. The company said it expects sales at Applebee’s restaurants to fall between 6 to 8 percent this year, compared with last year. IHOP sales are expected to drop off from 1 percent to 3 percent this year.
