General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSouplantation's buffet-style restaurants closing for good due to the coronavirus
Souplantation, the popular buffet-style dining brand founded in San Diego 42 years ago, is closing all of its restaurants permanently, a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic that is likely to be the death knell for all self-serve eateries.
The permanent shuttering of the 97 restaurants, including 44 in California, was announced Thursday following weeks of efforts to salvage San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurants, the parent company of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes, which operates outside of Southern California. The closing will mean lost jobs for 4,400 employees.
The FDA had previously put out recommendations that included discontinuing self-serve stations, like self-serve beverages in fast food, but they specifically talked about salad bars and buffets, said John Haywood, CEO of Garden Fresh. The regulations are understandable, but unfortunately, it makes it very difficult to reopen. And Im not sure the health departments are ever going to allow it.
We couldve overcome any other obstacle, and weve worked for eight weeks to overcome these intermittent financial challenges but it doesnt work if we are not allowed to continue our model.
Read more: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2020-05-07/souplantations-buffet-style-restaurants-closing-for-good-due-to-the-coronvirus
Journeyman
(15,026 posts)though it'll be easier for the yogurt stands to change their business model and revert to serving customers.
Initech
(100,041 posts)And if this never ends, they're probably never coming back.
bearsfootball516
(6,373 posts)The Golden Corral down the street from where I work has a sign up saying they're opening back up May 11.
Initech
(100,041 posts)WestLosAngelesGal
(268 posts)I won't go to a buffet ever again. Everyone, and I mean everyone, touches the serving utensils. Cannot bear the thought of that.
sellitman
(11,605 posts)Sorry but not this Grandfather.
We have an amazing Chinese Buffet 5 minutes from our house too. I will miss it but...nope.
sweetloukillbot
(10,972 posts)Same company, rebranded outside California.
Hugin
(33,059 posts)in fast food restaurants. And, for mostly the same reason. Sneeze guards are simply not enough added to staking your companies fortunes to people you only pay an outdated minimum wage to give a crap.
Too much liability.
Good riddance, IMHO.