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marmar

(80,267 posts)
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 09:35 AM Jul 2020

Coronavirus: The slow death of the American all-you-can-eat buffet [View all]


(BBC) Buffets - from the humblest hotel breakfasts to the grandest casino banquets - are struggling to stay afloat as new health restrictions come into place and wary diners eschew the self-serve dining tradition.

As many buffets go out of business across the US, others are innovating and trying desperately to keep the business model relevant and appetising.

What is the problem?

Susan Yin, the owner of Jack's Fresh in downtown Washington DC, tells BBC News that her average sales have dropped nearly 90% after they re-opened two months ago following a two month closure.

Jack's Fresh, which specialises in Asian food and American sandwiches, is currently making around $500 (£398) per day, down from an average of $3,500 before the pandemic, she says.

"No people work in this area," says Mrs Yin, referring to the commuters that have mostly been working from home since March. "It's still very quiet." ...........(more)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53410931




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I loved my neighborhood Chinese buffet for years irisblue Jul 2020 #1
Same here ☹️ zeusdogmom Jul 2020 #18
Buffets are a problem during a pandemic. LisaL Jul 2020 #2
Another type of business that is no longer viable. lark Jul 2020 #3
Exactly Takket Jul 2020 #6
Gloved hand and hazmat suit. louis-t Jul 2020 #23
That's what they do on cruise ships SoCalNative Jul 2020 #28
That takes a lot of cheap labor. Laelth Jul 2020 #31
Oh, right, the breakfast bars in hotels. :( tanyev Jul 2020 #4
We stayed at a hotel recently MissB Jul 2020 #8
Was the self-serve coffee station still there? marmar Jul 2020 #9
Nope MissB Jul 2020 #22
Good to know, thanks. tanyev Jul 2020 #12
We also had to notify them MissB Jul 2020 #25
It's not going to change these things. Jirel Jul 2020 #16
We picked up a Red Lobster curbside pickup order BusyBeingBest Jul 2020 #5
I was taken to a Golden Corral once gollygee Jul 2020 #11
That's about what I would've expected... BusyBeingBest Jul 2020 #32
Great. We're trading the image of the 400lbs Olde Country Buffet patron Aristus Jul 2020 #7
I think if the buffets add karaoke business will return to normal. Voltaire2 Jul 2020 #10
Haaaa!!! louis-t Jul 2020 #24
* Maru Kitteh Jul 2020 #38
Big deal. Jirel Jul 2020 #13
What's the big deal? It's not like the BBC isn't covering the other news. marmar Jul 2020 #15
LOL. Jirel Jul 2020 #21
The bigger issue is the fate of any lunch trade restaurant in a CBD brooklynite Jul 2020 #14
True. marmar Jul 2020 #17
Coronavirus has only exposed how gross buffets were from the beginning greenjar_01 Jul 2020 #19
True on the first part.....Oh hell no on the Star Wars statement. marmar Jul 2020 #20
I remember being at a buffet with my uncle. louis-t Jul 2020 #26
Slow death? More like a heart attack. fescuerescue Jul 2020 #27
I really hope not SoCalNative Jul 2020 #29
My kids' favorite place to eat was Sweet Tomatoes Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2020 #30
They could be revamped AwakeAtLast Jul 2020 #33
Yes. Self serve places are dead, but we will be back to cafeteria style. Not a bad thing. madinmaryland Jul 2020 #34
I ate thousands of comped buffets in Las Vegas Awsi Dooger Jul 2020 #35
From this day forward AwakeAtLast Jul 2020 #36
some might go cafeteria style pstokely Jul 2020 #37
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