Applebee’s is moving its headquarters to a new neighborhood — in California — and layoffs are coming

Here’s a serious bummer to start your Labor Day weekend: Applebee’s is moving its headquarters from Kansas City to Glendale, California.

That move will lead to layoffs among the 220 employees at the fast-casual restaurant’s headquarters, The Kansas City Star reports. About 90 of those folks will keep their jobs in KC, and another 10-20 percent will be asked to head to California. 

So how does Applebee’s owner, the California-based DineEquity Inc., explain the move?

We turn to DineEquity chairwoman and CEO Julia A. Stewart, who gives the most robotic and predictable of press-release quotes: 

“This move best positions the company to act as a nimble, effective, and efficient force for the future. Consolidating most brand-centric, franchisee and consumer facing aspects of Applebee’s is an important step in that direction. While there will be some costs associated with this, we remain fully committed to returning substantially all of our free cash flow to shareholders.” 

Applebee’s voice-over guys Jason Sudeikis and John Corbett probably would have delivered the news with a little more heart.