UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 Current Report




                PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)        October 1, 2002
                                                --------------------------------

Commission File Number:    000-17962


                         Applebee's International, Inc.
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                      43-1461763
  ----------------------------              ------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   incorporation or organization)

          4551 W. 107th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

                                 (913) 967-4000
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      None
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events

     On October 1, 2002, Applebee's  International, Inc. (the "Company")  issued
a  press  release  entitled "Applebee's  International Enters Into Agreement  To
Acquire Certain Secured Debt of Apple Capitol."  The press release contained the
following information.




                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Carol DiRaimo,
          Director of Investor Relations
          (913) 967-4109


                 APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT
                TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN SECURED DEBT OF APPLE CAPITOL

OVERLAND  PARK,  KAN.,  October  1,  2002  --  Applebee's  International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  announced  today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire
certain  secured  debt of  Apple  Capitol  Group,  LLC owed to  Lehman  Brothers
Holdings,  Inc. for $34.3 million. This agreement is subject to the consummation
of Applebee's  International's  previously announced potential acquisition of 21
franchise  restaurants located in the Washington,  D.C. area from Apple Capitol,
an  existing  franchisee.  The  company  continues  to expect to close under its
negotiated  purchase  agreement  to  acquire  the 21  restaurants  in the fourth
quarter  of  2002,  subject  to  normal  bankruptcy  court  bidding  procedures,
obtaining operating licenses and other third-party consents.

Applebee's International,  Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., develops,
franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's  Neighborhood Grill and
Bar brand,  the largest casual dining concept in the world.  There are currently
1,459  Applebee's  restaurants  operating  system-wide  in 49  states  and eight
international countries.  Additional information on Applebee's International can
be found at the company's website (www.applebees.com).

                                      # # #






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<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                              APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                              (Registrant)


Date:      October 1, 2002                 By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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