Breese Applebee's officially closes; Wolters and Kuhl will open soon

Applebee's Bar and Grill in Breese officially closed on Dec. 28.    Owner Don Schomaker confirmed that the Applebee's in Breese officially closed on Dec. 28.
    Schomaker said the Applebee's new franchise qualifications were a $30 million liability policy. He said that lawsuits and high insurance premiums are killing the industry.
Wolters and Kuhl Restaurant will be coming soon in the current Applebee's building.    Schomaker said a new Wolters and Kuhl restaurant will be open in the Applebee's building in the next couple of weeks. Wolters and Kuhl will still be owned by Schomaker with SDS stores.
    Schomaker said they are changing menus for the new Wolters and Kuhl restaurant. The new menu will feature hand-cut quality steaks, increased seafood line, new pasta dishes and several oriental dishes. The exotic menu will include rabbit, qual, bison, gulf coast and northern fish, crab meat and special seafood plates.
    Officials and developers officially broke ground on the Applebee's restaurant in Breese on June 11, 2020. The project was about 9,000 square feet and total cost was $6.5 million.
    Applebee's opened on March 1, 2021.
    Eddie's Rise and Dine, which adjoins Applebee's, will remain open.
    Both Eddie's Rise and Dine and the new Wolters and Kuhl restaurants are located at 13961 Progress Drive in Breese.