KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Applebee’s is suing a man who owned at least seven Applebee's franchises in the metro over the closure of those restaurants.
The lawsuit says William Georgas’s company shut down the seven restaurants without consulting Applebee’s. The suit claims he owes $6.5 million.
One of Georgas’s former locations was the Applebee’s at Independence Center. It closed shortly after an allegation of racial profiling in February.
It’s unclear why Georgas closed the restaurants, but Applebee’s called it a breach of contract.
An Applebee’s spokesperson sent 41 Action News a statement that reads, “This filing was made based on a long-standing breach of contract against an individual and is not dependent on a particular incident, rather the closing of a combination of seven restaurants.”
In a statement e-mailed to 41 Action News Friday, a spokesman said Georgas remains committed to the Kansas City market and continues to "timely pay all royalties and advertising fees on all operating Apple Center KC, LLC restaurants.
The spokesman added that Georgas was surprised at the lawsuit, but believes it will be "disposed of promptly."
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