People are always asking where Applebee’s gets it’s name. As if it is something we’re told in training, and maybe we are but I certainly don’t remember. So, I decided to do a little research and find out for myself. I stumbled upon this strange website that is apparently written by one of the original creators of Applebee’s, TJ Palmer. The website is http://applebees-founder.com/. The whole site took me by surprise. It is her story, the trials and tribulations of opening and running a business along with your husband/partner while your marriage crumbles around you. Instead of finding out the name and background to the store, I got sucked in to reading this lady’s kind of heartbreaking life story. I felt for her.
I did find out some other interesting stuff too though. The original name was supposed to be Appleby’s (which is apparently said the same as Applebee’s.) But that name was taken, so it evolved into, "TJ Applebee's Edibles and Elixirs."
I guess they wanted an old fashioned drug-store type feel, hence the “edibles and elixirs” contrasting today’s “bar and grill,” which was exactly what they were trying to get away from. There was even an old wooden Indian holding cigars that stood at the entrance of the store. It was also apparently, TJ’s dumb ex-husband who decided hot air balloons should be in their theme (gross.) This is the original stained glass fixture, very similar and maybe the same as the one in our store.
It just has a very outdated/reading rainbow type feel to me. Also, all of the stores were originally equipped with glass tiffany's above the booths. Adorned with kitty cats, unicorns, teddy bears, and of course, hot air balloons. This year we remodled along with many other stores for a more modern look. I'm thankful for this mostly because I hit my head on those damn things all the time.
The website didn’t say exactly say where all the crazy memorabilia on the walls comes in. Everything from firemen hats to 101 dalmation posters are up there. But I guess it kind of goes with the nostalgic idea. Sometimes, on verrrry slow days we will play a sort of "I spy" with the things on the walls. One person will make a list, something along the lines of,
" A baseball mitt"
"A lasso"
"A toy car"
"Billy-Ray Cyrus"
etc... and we will do our best to spot them all before the end of the shift.
Don't judge us.
I can totally see playing Eye Spy at Applebees.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing the research on the history of the place. That's really neat. I never really gave it much thought.