This isn't your father's Applebee's anymore: CEO

Applebee's is in the process of a major makeover to attract more younger millennial customers while not losing its base of baby boomers, said Julia Stewart, CEO of DineEquity, owner of the casual dining chain.

Stewart told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Wednesday that renovations at all Applebee's locations will be completed by the end of this year. "You'll see a much more modern and contemporary and much more relevant casual dining restaurant chain."

Trying to appeal to twentysomethings and thirtysomethings, the comfort food chain also plans to step up its bar game.

"Over the next couple of years, you'll see more activity in the bar for the millennial. You'll see more effort focused on the menu at the bar—what we call shareables," Stewart said.

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