Polaris' restaurant row just got a little quieter. After 27 years on the strip, the Applebee’s at 1161 Polaris Parkway has closed this week, taking a longtime fixture out of the mall corridor and adding another national-chain vacancy to an area that has seen steady tenant turnover.
In a statement to NBC4, local operator Rod Conant confirmed that "the Applebee’s restaurant at 1161 Polaris Pkwy., Columbus, OH has permanently closed." He added that "all team members were offered positions at our other area locations."
Applebee's corporate site still lists the Polaris address but flags that restaurant as "Temporarily Closed," while pointing diners to the chain's other Columbus locations on Morse Road and Georgesville Square Drive. Applebee's lists 3894 Morse Road and 1590 Georgesville Square Drive among its operating Columbus spots.
Corporate strategy and local closures
The Polaris shutdown comes amid a broader reshuffle at the brand's parent company. As reported by The Independent, Dine Brands has projected closing 20–35 underperforming restaurants while pushing dozens of dual-branded Applebee’s/IHOP locations, moves that show up in the company's federal filings. The dual-brand rollout and the cost pressures on franchisees are detailed in filings with the SEC for 2025.
Polaris corridor's changing dining scene
The Polaris retail strip has already seen recent churn, with Giordano's slipping out after nine years earlier this summer, and Saks Fifth Avenue exiting Polaris Fashion Place in May, as reported by Columbus Business First. Those outlets have tracked the turnover as landlords work to reposition space for new concepts.
Conant told NBC4 that managers and team members were offered transfers to the remaining Columbus Applebee’s locations, describing it as an effort to limit layoffs. The company has not provided a timeline for when the Polaris building might be re-listed or repurposed.
For diners, the closure removes a familiar, budget-friendly option from the Polaris mix. For the property, its next tenant is still anyone's guess. Dine Brands continues to report roughly 1,520 Applebee’s restaurants systemwide in its 2025 SEC filing, and the dual-brand push suggests more reshuffling could be ahead in suburban retail corridors.
