No, it’s not an April Fools’ Day prank. This Coastal Bend college town is about to get a new breakfast and dinner mashup thanks to a transformation of America’s favorite diner, IHOP.
The Kingsville IHOP will soon become the latest that parent company, Dine Brands, will transform into a combination breakfast diner/date night resto, according to a new filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Though such filings are subject to change, it’s expected that Kingsville’s existing IHOP, which is located at 2612 S. Hwy 77, Kingsville, TX 78363, will undergo a $400,000 renovation to add an Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar to its nearly 4,800-square-foot space. Construction is expected to begin in June and be complete by January 2027, TDLR records show.
By this time next year, Kingsville’s IHOP will be the perfect place for hungry Javelinas from nearby Texas A&M University – Kingsville who can’t decide whether they want breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast. The transformation is part of an aggressive and fairly new initiative by Dine Brands Global to pair the two franchise restaurant brands in a way that “leverages both brands to provide guests two unique dining experiences under one roof,” the company states on its website.
Dine Brands initially tested the IHOP/Applebee’s mashup concept in its international markets in 2020. The company began launching them in the United States last year, opening the very first domestic location in Seguin in February 2025. Since then, Dine Brands has opened 27 more — nearly all of them involving similar renovations to convert existing restaurants into hybrid locations. Today, Dine Brands boasts 28 domestic IHOP/Applebee’s combos, and 18 international ones. The company also has plans to add 50 more by the end of 2026, according to Restaurant Business, an online trade publication that tracks the restaurant industry.
“Development initiatives anchored by our dual brands strategy continue to build momentum,” Dine Brands CEO John Peyton said in a February 25 news release announcing the company’s 2025 financial performance.
According to Restaurant Dive, another online media company that tracks the restaurant industry, Dine Brands is targeting transformations in locations that offer the best 24-hour customer demand and traffic flow, like colleges and airports. Texas’ Dallas Love Field became the first hybrid location to open at an airport earlier this year, and the company has plans to build or hybridize 900 locations in all.