Applebee’s in Bend closes after 20 years

(Update: Clarifying owner/management)

The Applebee’s Grill & Bar on North Highway 97 in Bend closed down abruptly Thursday, after 20 years in existence.

J&A Food Services, Inc., which operated the restaurant, said the establishment closed because the lease has expired. Officials said the Idaho-based management company for the property owner, Weigand Investments, wanted to raise the price of its month-to-month lease, but J&A could not absorb the added cost.

A Weigand official said they have a ground lease with the management firm, which handles rent/lease issues.

A notice posted on the restaurant’s door informed ” our valued guests ” that the owners ” will be concerting our efforts and resources to our sister store in Redmond. ”

” We appreciate the support from our community in Bend for all these years, ” the notice concluded.

Zach Sylvia, vice president of operations for J&A Food Services, said he appreciates the 20 years he was able to spend at the Bend location, and is sad to see the restaurant close.

” There are lots of people who had fond memories here, whether it’s people who had their first management jobs, or people who met their future spouse here. There is a lot of history in this building, ” Sylvia said.

Sylvia said J&A currently does not have any plans to relocate in Bend. The Redmond restaurant is still open, and that’s where Sylvia said he’s trying to move about half of his 30 employees. As for the other half, Sylvia said he and the general manager of the Bend restaurant are writing letters of recommendation to help them get jobs elsewhere.

It’s the latest turn of events on a stretch of highway also known as Third Street that has seen its ups and downs in retail comings and goings in recent years.

The Shopko across the street closed earlier this year after the Midwest-based company declared bankruptcy. The former McGrath’s Fish House down the street has sat empty since its abrupt closure just before Christmas of 2016.