It’s Thursday and night classes just ended. However, karaoke and half price appetizers just started at Applebees.
“There are a lot of students who come in for the half price appetizers,” Rebekah Seymour, junior business administration and accounting majors said. “It’s aimed towards the college students.”
Seymour has worked at Applebees for about three years. She thinks the atmosphere of the restaurant has changed since nightly events have been implemented at the restaurant.
The community has been responsive to the different events each night. These include half price appetizers are from 3 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close every day in the bar area, 99 cent kids meals on Monday, trivia night on Wednesday and karaoke on Thursday. Saturday is UFC fight nights and the magician is the first and third Tuesday every month from 7 to 9 p.m.
“We have groups that come in for trivia on Wednesdays,” Seymour said. “We have both OU groups and groups from the community that come play to win gift cards. It’s really fun and gives people something to do on a Wednesday night.”
Ashley Williams, hourly manager agrees that the students and community have a lot of fun when they come in.
“UFC fight nights and karaoke are popular,” she said. “It gives everyone in the community something fun to do. It also drives sales.”
Applebees was voted best date place and best steak by OU students. However, some students also see this restaurant as a place to relax after a long day of classes.
“I like going here to just get my mind off of all the things I’ve been doing all day,” Jill Francis, junior psychology major said. “It’s relaxing to take a break with your friends and have some good laughs. I see a lot of people from the university when I’m there, too.”
Seymour adds that there are a lot of students who also come in not only for appetizers, but also for daily drink specials. She says that these specials are also targeted to the students.
Twice a month, a magician also comes into the restaurant to entertain guests.
“I think it’s fun because he keeps people entertained and kids love it,” Seymour said.
She’s not the only one that seems to favor this particular night.
“He turned fire into a bouncy ball,” Williams said.
For Seymour, it’s not just about working these events, it’s also about seeing familiar faces.
“I get to see and catch up with friends and family when they come in to eat,” she said. “All of these events usually make work more fun, but at times people stay really late.”
This sometimes affects all the things she may have to do later that night.
“At times, all I can think about it the homework I have to do when these people are in late,” she said.
Williams, however, thinks that the late hours draw in a different crowd.
“It’s more of a bar atmosphere since we are a bar and grill, especially after 9 p.m.,” she said.