“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away?”
Sometimes, something as simple as having a neighborhood restaurant to go to, just like CHEERS, to see friends and talk and unwind, is so important. We are saddened to hear that Applebee’s on Rt 110 in Huntington Station is scheduled to close in March or April.
During Covid we realized that our local Applebee’s was a safe place to go. We met several people who became our family and Applebee’s quickly became OUR place. But Applebee’s is not only our place, it’s been such an important part of our community for so many years. They host fundraisers, they allow the space and resources for young adults with disabilities to learn the restaurant business and they always support our local veterans.
It’s a place that parents trust as a safe spot where they can send their teenagers after school and it’s also a place that families choose to go to celebrate birthdays. Everyone gets involved in birthday celebrations at Applebee’s! If you’re a regular, there will no doubt be flowers, cards and balloons along with the chorus of everyone singing the special Applebee’s birthday song!
The employees AND the customers there have enriched our lives over the past several years. We became fast friends with the bartenders, servers, managers and several guests. The dedicated employees not only do their job well but they go above and beyond, getting to know their customers. Some have been there as long as 20+ years without being given any information as to if and when they will lose their jobs or be switched to another location. They don’t know what their future holds. We heard many rumors that they might reopen in another location in the Huntington Station area but nothing has been confirmed.
It would be a huge loss for our community to let Applebee’s close their doors. Most people don’t know they’re planning to close or they do know and don’t know how they can help. We’re hoping this letter will raise awareness, unite our Huntington Station community and hopefully get the support of Huntington council members so we can find a new home for Applebee’s.
“Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same, you want to be where everybody knows your name.”
–Deborah and Lisa Porretto
I totally agree. Very sad. TGI Friday’s now this.