Doherty Enterprises Inc., the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar franchisee, will officially open a new first-of-its-kind To Go version of the traditional casual-dining concept on Tuesday, Sept. 12, the company said this week.

The Allendale, N.J.-based company, which also has its own concepts as well as franchised units of Applebee’s and Chevys Fresh Mex, said the new To Go unit in Deer Park, Long Island, “will provide quick and convenient service to guests on the go who crave the delicious meals only available at Applebee’s.

“Like a fast-casual restaurant, this location will include a few dine-in tables without table service in addition to the latest to-go technology, such as pickup lockers,” the company said in a news release. “The To Go-only location was also designed to maximize the speed of service for delivery through Applebees.com and partners such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub.”

The new Applebee’s To Go official grand opening celebration will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. It is at 403 Commack Road in Deer Park, N.Y. Applebee’s has been testing pickup windows for several years.

“Enjoying your favorite Applebee’s entrees and appetizers when you’re ‘on the go’ has never been easier,” said Kurt Pahlitzsch, Doherty Enterprises’ vice president  of operations, said in a statement. “We’re committed to finding new ways to meet the needs of our guests so they can enjoy the meals they love from Applebee’s in a convenient and efficient way.”

The company said residents in the area, which also includes neighboring Babylon and West Islip, will be able to place an order and pay via Applebees.com or the Applebee’s mobile smartphone app. After they select the “to go” option at checkout, they will be given an estimated pickup time. Once they arrive at the Applebee’s location, they will be able to grab their order from the new pickup lockers that serve both guests and delivery drivers. The new pick-up lockers enable quick, contactless, food order handoff with the click of a smartphone.

The company said the location is expected soon to offer various bar beverages, including limited beer, wine, and liquor selections to go adults with identification.

It will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Applebee’s is franchised by Glendale, Calif.-based Dine Brands Global Inc. Doherty Enterprises’ owns and operates more than 130 restaurants, including its own Shannon Rose Irish Pub and Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas concepts.

Original Article:
[H/T] RestaurantBusinessOnline.com