Heartbreak in Olathe: Six Applebee’s Locations Close, Leaving Employees Jobless
OLATHE, Kan. — In a surprising turn of events, the Kansas City metro area has just lost six Applebee’s locations, leading to a wave of sadness and uncertainty among employees and patrons alike. The closures took effect late Tuesday night and were announced following a bankruptcy filing for Apple Central Kansas City, the local franchisee responsible for these restaurants.
Employment Woes for Former Staff
For many employees, the news has turned their world upside down. One former shift leader and bartender, Erica Woolery, expressed her shock when she learned about the closures. “I immediately called my general manager and said, tell me this isn’t true,” Woolery shared, reflecting on her five years of dedication to the Applebee’s brand. Throughout her journey, she has worked at five different locations, and now with the sudden closure, she’s left searching for a new job.
“It’s heartbreaking. It really is. I’m on the hunt for a new job, and I didn’t expect to be. I recently got engaged, and now I have to push my wedding plans back,” Woolery revealed. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially for those who poured their hearts into the day-to-day operations of their beloved restaurants.
Laney Mahoney, another former bartender at the same location, echoed Woolery’s sentiments. She explained that several employees hadn’t received their last paychecks. “We loved working here,” Mahoney said, “so we felt extremely blindsided and disrespected that there was no warning or anything. A lot of us were just left with no job.”
Communication Issues and Concerns
As employees scramble to find new opportunities, communication from corporate remains a point of frustration. Although a representative assured that instructions had been sent via a company email portal, both Woolery and Mahoney reported being locked out of their messages. This has left them in a state of confusion regarding their final payments and next steps.
A Changing Dining Landscape
As for the Applebee’s brand itself, it once boasted over 1,600 locations across the nation. Today, only two remain operational in the Kansas City metro area, located in Blue Springs and Gladstone. This trend doesn’t seem to be an isolated incident. Dan Janssen, who once worked at the corporate headquarters, has his own venture now with The Rub BBQ in Olathe. He suggested that the landscape of dining out has changed dramatically over the years, leaning towards more casual dining options rather than the traditional sit-down experiences that were once popular.
“You can’t change the concept drastically and maintain your customer base with the evolution of the life cycle of a restaurant; it’s difficult,” Janssen explained. Consumers today are looking for different experiences compared to what they craved three decades ago, and this is evidenced by the current state of Applebee’s.
Looking Forward
Despite the sadness and uncertainty ahead, Woolery and Mahoney are not backing down. Both former employees are already lining up interviews for their next positions, showing resilience in the face of adversity. “We loved our jobs and the people we worked with,” Woolery said, but it’s clear that there’s a strong drive to move forward and make the best out of a tough situation.
As the dust settles from these closures, the community comes together to support those affected, whether it’s through sharing job opportunities, offering help with resumes, or just lending an ear. In challenging times like these, it’s the people that matter most, and the spirit of Olathe will surely keep pushing forward.
