Apple-Metro, Inc., the New York Metro-Area Applebee’s franchisee, will open New York City’s first USGBC LEED Gold Certified Restaurant December 10. This environmentally-friendly restaurant, located in the East River Plaza at 117th Street, East of Pleasant Ave. in New York City, will mark Apple-Metro, Inc.’s 35th Applebee’s location.
Not only does this sit-down, casual dining restaurant at 117th Street in Manhattan offer a comfortable environment for 350+ diners, this USGBC LEED Gold Certified location is equipped with over 40 environmentally-friendly upgrades including rainwater and daylight harvesting, waterless urinals, LED light fixtures, Energy Star equipment, living walls, and reclaimed wood. At the front of the restaurant there will be a Green Education Touch Screen, which will inform customers about the features that make the restaurant environmentally-friendly and the benefits of living in a green environment. Free Wi-Fi service and Personal Viewing Systems, enabling guests to hear what they are watching on Applebee’s Flat Screen TVs, are also available for the guest’s convenience.
“I am so proud we are continuing our green initiatives culminating in a LEED Certified Location! As we began construction on the 117th Street location, it became apparent that this needed to be New York City’s first USGBC LEED Gold Certified Restaurant. We felt it would pave the way for all other restaurants to move towards making environmentally-conscious upgrades. It’s about being a good neighbor, both locally and globally,” says Zane Tankel, founder and CEO of Apple-Metro, Inc. “We are focusing on green practices and are on a regular schedule of renovating and remodeling our existing restaurants to ensure that Applebee’s in New York City is becoming more environmentally-friendly,” he adsd.
All proceeds from the Applebee’s 117th Street VIP Opening Party – which will take place December 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – will be donated to a local neighborhood organization. This location will officially open to the public for lunch at 11 a.m. December 10. The restaurant’s regular business hours will be Sunday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. To-go service will also be available.
On November 9, Apple-Metro opened a restaurant located in Parkchester on 75 Metropolitan Oval, Bronx. With the addition of Applebee’s 117th Street and Parkchester, Apple-Metro, Inc. will create more than 300 local neighborhood jobs. Apple-Metro, Inc. plans to open additional restaurants throughout 2013.
