Posted on 05/07/2020 10:00:57 PM PDT by fluorescence
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 COVID-19 pandemic that is likely to be the death knell for all self-serve eateries.
The permanent closing of the 97 restaurants, including 44 in California, was announced Thursday after weeks of efforts to salvage San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurants, the parent company of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes. 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, chief executive of Garden Fresh. “The regulations are understandable, but unfortunately, it makes it very difficult to reopen. And I’m not sure the health departments are ever going to allow it.
[snip]
“We spent two years researching and trying to improve things and actually got the business turned around,” Allbritton said. “We were growing the number of guests and were in the process of renovating the restaurants with new fixtures, carpeting, signage as late as January. We felt great about it. But I’ve got to tell you, when the virus hit, we went from 100% to 70 to 30 to 10% that fast, before the restaurants closed down and the company ran out of money in one week.”
Allbritton said that he wrote a check five weeks ago for $2.5 million to help cover the final payroll.
“We looked at the [federal] Paycheck Protection Program, but even with that we didn’t see how we could reopen the restaurants. We can’t take that money, it’s just disingenuous.”
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Hometown Buffet used to be a restaurant that a group of naturists (nudists) when to after our monthly swim/games event at the Y. The management of the restaurant knew and they had a table set up for about 40 of us. Miss them...
Soup and salad ain’t no meal in my world. I can’t imagine being satisfied with just that and bread. No way.
It looks like the buffet model for restaurants is dead at least for a few years. As far as Soup Plantation goes I feel really bad. They put out a good, clean, fresh honest buffet that I have eaten at many times. Probably 10 times.
The local soup plantation here can be very crowded. Same with one Chinese buffet that is jammed on Sundays by black families eating after church. With f’ing Covid this is all out the window.
And like the Soup Plantation spokesman said. They remained open but saw business plummet down to 10% of the usual.
“.... Wonder how the virus outbreak will affect the Buffets in Vegas????”
If, when they reopen they will NOT will be as good. Buffets need customers selecting and eating for fast food turnover, so that they can bring out freshly cooked batches of food. When a buffet can only seat at 40-50% capacity then the food turnover is slower. So you will be eating food that has been sitting around.
I read your reply THREE times and I have questions for you and YOUR STRAW MAN REPLY. Do you eat gasoline? Do you lick your fingers after touching the handle at a gas pump?
My point was that 20 people, maybe a hundred, touched the handle on the fuel pump. If anyone of them had the virus on their hands it would reside on the fuels pump handle until the next person touched it.
We've been told that if the virus were on your hand and you touch or scratched your face you run the HIGH RISK of the virus easily entering into your system through your mouth, eyes, or nose.
You then make the statement.. One can wash their hands after touching a gas pump... that is NOT what happens 70% of the time. I and most people "pay at the pump" by swiping a credit card, pumping our gas, then putting the fuel hose back on the pump, and driving off ( possibly with the virus on your hands! )
You also state: you cannot wash your food before you eat it and those hot stations are not at pasteurization temperatures SORRY... but if you're such a "snowflake" stay at home and microwave your pizza rolls and leave the REAL EATING to those of us who are not susceptible to the "germs are out to kill me" syndrome.
Let us NOT forget ”Coming in contact with germs is necessary for a strong immune system”... thank you FReeper "EasySt" for posting that a few days ago as a reminder.
I suggest YOU stay at home and prepare and review your "STRAW MAN" POV. I'll be helping myself to more mashed potatoes and a nice dessert while you chastise me and others who do NOT possess the "snowflake" gene that governs your life.
NICE TRY at trying to pedal your POINTLESS POV!
I'm with you brother!
All this UNNECESSARY crap is the "politically correct" indoctrination of our society into the supposed "new way" of dealing with illness.
I'm beginning to wonder if they'll next be suggesting "Safe Sex with Social Distancing"... wonder how in the hell that would be accomplished?
“who do NOT possess the “snowflake” gene that governs your life.”
Wanna bet the nerd has peanut allergies.
I don’t think this had much to do with gov’t over regulating. People just don’t want to eat at a salad buffet.
Sweet Tomatoes was very popular in the Fresno, CA (FR HQ) area.
I’ve been to Sweet Tomatoes several times. I kinda liked it. Wouldn’t eat at any buffet now
Once again, I'd have to side with you.
With his attitude he's probably allergic to STEAK & POTATOES!
Yeah, their “post COVID” chances were slim. (At least until COVID is “just another flu” in a year or so).
Ouch! An UberNerd!
lol
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