Applebee’s restaurants throughout Richmond are getting a facelift. The national chain of casual-dining restaurants said Wednesday that Richmond is among the first of its market-wide remodels. In a project dubbed, “River City Recharge,“ Applebee’s began work on renovating 12 properties in March, with construction on all locations scheduled to be complete by mid-June.
According to the company, each restaurant will undergo a three-day revitalization with locations closing on Sunday after business hours and re-opening the following Thursday. No more than two Richmond area locations will be closed at any one time. On the construction menu: A remodeled interior and exterior with warmer colors and contemporary design, including elements specific to the neighborhood each restaurant serves. The new design was developed using test units near Applebee’s International headquarters in Lenexa, Kan. Each store remodel will cost about $200,000. In addition, Applebee’s plans service enhancements, new food and drink selections and some staff retraining both here and in Hampton Roads for a total investment of $8 million.