If you’re anything like me, you love going to Applebee’s! From their delicious burgers to their boozy drinks, nothing beats an experience at Applebee’s.

That’s why we’ve compiled five facts about Applebee’s that you likely did not know before. Scroll through them and find out more about this restaurant chain that we all love!

It began as a mom and pop shop.

Before Applebee’s was a national restaurant chain, there was only one restaurant located in Decatur, Georgia. Bill and T.J. Palmer, a married couple, opened this restaurant with a $50,000 loan on November 9, 1980. They opened a second location in Georgia a few years later, and it was a huge success. They sold the company to chemical conglomerate W.R. Grace and Co in 1983, which is when Bill became the president and led the restaurant franchise to the success that it is today.

It was almost named Peppers

Bill and T.J. had originally planned to name their restaurant Cinnamon’s or Peppers, but since those were already registered in Georgia, they picked Applebee’s!

You Can’t DIY The Menu

Because of proprietary and confidential reasons, Applebee’s cannot reveal any recipes of their famous menu items to the public.

IHOP Owns It

IHOP started DineEquity, which describes itself as one of the largest full-service dining companies in the world. This company has said that it is “focused on providing strategic, visionary leadership for our franchisees, unparalleled opportunities for our team members, and enhancing value for our shareholders. By bringing Applebee’s together with IHOP in November 2007, we made a bold, new commitment to our brand-revitalization abilities and to the power of franchising.”

Veterans eat free

…On Veteran’s Day! On this special day, veterans just have to show proof of service to get a well-deserved free meal!

What’s your favorite thing to order at Applebee’s? Let us know in the comments section!