day, 2022 Galvanized Media. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the fall of 2020, citing a huge decline in dine-in business and trouble negotiating rent relief with landlords. The irony is, buffets are probably the fastest food to mouth option you can get outside of your home they just don't have that "fast casual" label that's practically required for popular eateries these days. Anyone who wants to eat local is more than likely going somewhere other than Old Country Buffet and the number of people that applies to is steadily rising. The future of Hometown Buffet is uncertain. Like several other closed buffet chains, though, its store count dwindled in recent years as fast-casual dining started to dominate. The company is based in Downey, California. This Is Why You Don't See Many Old Country Buffets Anymore, merged with Ryan's Restaurant Group in 2006, According to a neurologist that testified at the August 2014 court hearing, lawyers failed to respond in timely manner, delivery apps are making dining at restaurants, including Old Country Buffet, seem obsolete. Old Country Buffet has a new owner, BBQ Holdings, but executives there say they have no plans to breathe new life into the once-extensive chain, which was down to just under17 locations from hundreds at the beginning of 2019,according to Mashed. HomeTown Buffet in Redding suddenly closes after 25 years advice every day. The restaurant also has a take-out option. Alex Susskind, a professor of food and beverage management at Cornell University, said he does not think buffets can survive under the methods they used to operate under. Simply click on the Hometown Buffet location below to find out where it is located and if it received positive reviews. The big buffet chain has been gradually reopening locations across the country with a different service model, typically a cafeteria-style strategy in which employees serve customers items that would have otherwise been in a buffet. Buffets, Inc. which includes the chains Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and Ryans is also looking at new ways of operating, and may move towards one-on-one service, according to a spokesperson from Buffets parent company, Food Management Partners. For people like Sarah Chen Small, going to one was a way to mark a milestone in your life maybe a birthday or a graduation. Two HomeTown Buffets, one Ryan's, and one Old Country Buffet are now buffets closed for good. According to the location finder on its site, today there are only a total of 17 Old Country Buffet restaurants left in the country, and sales were down more than 37 percent in 2017. HomeTown Buffet - Home - Facebook On top of all that, Tristano said many buffets occupy spaces with a very large square footage, which means higher rent. Old Country Buffet, Ryan's, HomeTown Buffet owners declare bankruptcy As the virus spread in early March, Golden Corral added safeguards to its buffets. It also creates a sense of self-reliance and food security within communities. There have only been three CEOs in the entire history of the chain, which was founded in 1973 in North Carolina. Even if Old Country Buffet did start partnering with Uber Eats, it seems like something that wouldn't work well. Ovation Brands, which used to operate Old Country Buffet and Hometown Buffet, filed for bankruptcy three times between 2008 and 2016. Yes, Sizzler is still around, and the pandemic hasn't made it any easier for this throwback of a steakhouse and buffet chain to hold on. The chains new owners hope to turn things around with more of a focus on delivery. Yum! HOMETOWN BUFFET, Springfield - 3000 Gateway St - Restaurant Reviews single It also added an online foodservice offering through ToGoKitchens.com, which offers brands owned by VitaNova. Then Old Country Buffet declared bankruptcy a third time in 2016 (so much for inspiration from Aaliyah). Buffet-style restaurants have always been popular among families and budget-minded diners. Anyone who's trying to shed some pounds might see images of endless bins of greasy food as a straight-up recipe for fatness, so more than likely, they're staying away. Real talk: People also probably feel classier eating at Golden Corral since the word "buffet" isn't in the name. 1,282 were here. There is less environmental impact if you transport produce from the local farm instead of trucking it across the country. Why did old country buffet go out of business? In the past year, weve seen similar closures from Souplantation, Sweet Tomatoes, and Ryans Grill, Buffet & Bakery. Hometown Buffet was one of the last major national buffet chains in operation. Long gone are the days when you can only order pizza or Chinese food to your front door. The buffet industry has seen better days. Like its sister chains, it was in deep trouble before the pandemic hit, and Google News was full of stories detailing the abrupt closings of local restaurants. Last August, VitaNova, which previously had been known as Food Management Partners, said it, was converting some of Furrs locations to the AYCE Marketplace concept, which features a table-service, all-you-can-eat offering. } Hometown Buffet is a buffet-style restaurant chain downey with locations across the United States. I dont know if anything will ever go back to what the norm was before, Buenrostro said. For obvious reasons, buffet restaurants were hit hard by the pandemic, but many of the most well-known all-you-can-eat joints in the United States were already suffering before COVID-19. Related:Age Pays: 130+ Senior Discounts (Some Starting at Age 50!). We are working with the Metro Corral leadership team and anticipate that they will continue to operate 24 of their 33 Golden Corral franchised locations in Georgia and Florida. Okay, so if at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again and again. It opened an additional seven locations and now has 489, and average unit volumes increased. Anyone who grew up going to church remembers the agonizing wait for that last processional hymn at the end, and the promise of a delicious plate of hot food on the horizon. That doesn't include its sister restaurants, Hometown Buffet and Ryan's. The latest from Restaurant Business, sent straight to your inbox. But then Buffets, Inc. filed again in 2012, shedding more debt and cutting back more of its 494 buffets. It also closed down dozens of locations in the past few years as it struggled to stay afloat. ), had more than 500 family-friendly steakhouse buffet restaurants, operated 155 Pizza Inns at the end of 2019, The Most Cringe-Worthy Commercials of All Time, 30 American-Themed Restaurants and Attractions Around the World. Hometown Buffet lists 20 locations in California on its website, where it describes the liquidated restaurants as reopening soon. The owner of HomeTown Buffet and other buffet dining chains filed on Monday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, blaming a lawsuit that was not disclosed when its current owner bought the businesses in August. California Hometown Buffet locations (52), Connecticut Hometown Buffet locations (6), Massachusetts Hometown Buffet locations (1). A Virginia staple since the 70s, Country Cookin offered down-home favorites such as country fried steak and cornbread, but homey grub alone couldnt save it from the pandemic. Yet buffets might be in a bind for a while. If Hometown Buffet cant find a way to appeal to todays consumers, it may not be long before the chain is out of business for good. Copyright 2023 Market Realist. In 2008, FMP filed for bankruptcy and sold Hometown Buffet to Ovation Brands. Theyre looking for restaurants that offer fresh food, a variety of menu options, and an inviting atmosphere. Last week, the buffet chain Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes announced all 97 of its restaurants are closing permanently. It opened seven new locations in 2017,and sales rose 3.7 percent. Sherry Buenrostro from La Nacional Mexican Buffet knows that firsthand. All-you-can-eat buffets are also a victim of changing dietary habits. HomeTown Buffet provides high quality food at affordable prices in a family friendly atmosphere. If the family does go to church and eat afterward, they're probably eating atChipotle afterwards. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you. } else { And who could blame them? Fast casuals not only do a very good job with high quality and healthier fare, but many of them, like Panera Bread, are offering drive-throughs and express pick-ups, he said. You just sit down and go get your food, Torres said. Complete List of HomeTown Buffet Locations | AggData Two HomeTown Buffets, one Ryan's, and one Old Country Buffet are now buffets closed for good. His beats have included, business, dining, entertainment, and Southern California theme parks. Sales at the chain were down 62%in 2020. Amid the recession of the mid-2000s, however, Buffets declared bankruptcy in 2008 and again in 2012. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { The California auctions began on Dec. 7 with such items as dining tables, childrens booster seats, and Easter decorations with bidding often starting at a few dollars. Buffets also make a point to use smaller serving utensils with the more expensive grub. The chain is known for its all-you-can-eat buffet style, which allows customers to sample a variety of dishes. This closure signals a shift in the restaurant industry, as more and more people are choosing to dine at home or cook their own meals. That deal meant BBQ Holdings was the new owner of the remaining Tahoe Joes locations and the intellectual property for HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Ryans, and the other buffet chains. Now that we're smarter about food-borne illnesses, fewer people are willing to eat anywhere that requires a "sneeze guard," and we can't blame them. 10 Popular Buffet Chains Closing Locations Permanently The HomeTown Buffets in Chula Vista, and Bakersfield, Calif., the Ryan's in Charleston, W. Va., and The Old Country Buffets in Chicago were hit hard by the pandemic. Hundreds of dine-in Pizza Huts closed from 2019 through 2020, continuing a renewed focus on takeout and delivery. Get the best food tips and diet Hometown Buffet offers a variety of food and drink options, including a salad bar, hot entrees, and a dessert bar. He's also been a section editor and copy editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs. Ovation brands also owns Old Country Buffet, Ryans Grill, Fire Mountain, and Tahoe Joes Famous Steakhouse. Parent of Ryan's, Hometown Buffet and other chains files bankruptcy All-you-can-eat buffets are no longer as popular as they once were, and many restaurants are struggling toadapt to this change. I feel like just to still have a business to come back to, to still have my employees back with me that definitely is a positive, she said. In 1995, Hometown Buffet was acquired by Food Management Partners, a large operator of buffet restaurants. Almost $50 million in debt is weighing the parent company, 1069 Restaurant Group, down. Yet broad-menu buffet chains have generally struggled to adapt to thecoronavirus environment. Get todays need-to-know restaurant industry intelligence. Broad-menu buffet concepts now face a longer timeline for that reopening. But in the 21st century, despite the promise of delicious cheese biscuits awaiting you behind those ubiquitous red letters, Old Country Buffet has definitely had some setbacks. Hometown Buffet operated 123 locations in 26 states across the United States. The company is privately owned, byInvestors Management Corp., a company chaired by the same man who opened the first location. Number 8860726. According to its website, there currently are 14 Ryan's buffet locations in 10 states. The . 52 Hometown Buffet Locations in California (CA, US) City Shortcuts: Anaheim Eureka Fresno Moreno Valley Salinas San Leandro Hometown Buffet in 92802-3015 at 1630 W Katella Ave Hometown Buffet in 92806-4104 at 2190 E Lincoln Ave Bakersfield Hometown Buffet Bell Hometown Buffet Calexico Hometown Buffet Cerritos Hometown Buffet Chico Hometown Buffet It might be premature to say that the buffet is dead, but it seems likely to go into a coma for a while. These Adored Buffet Restaurants Are Now Closed for Good HomeTown Buffet. Most guests point out that the staff is courteous here. Asked about the fate of other banners, the spokeswoman said it was up to the courts.. San Antonio-based Fresh Acquisitions LLC listed assets of between $1 million and $10 million, and liabilities of between $10 million and $50 million, according to its bankruptcy filing, which was made in the Northern Texas Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The company also has TogoKitchens.com, Zio's Italian Kitchen, Sushi Zushi, Tahoe Joe's, Don Pablo's Cantina, Hometown AYCE Marketplace, Old Country AYCE Marketplace, Furr's AYCE Marketplace, and Ryan's AYCE Marketplace in their restaurant lineup. If you're craving something specific, there's a place to get it. The cost of loneliness: Social isolation holds back workers and costs employers billions, Businesses and consumers are borrowing more, despite rising interest rates, Why a Guarneri violin is expected to fetch $10 million at auction. Hometown Buffet business hours are from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. This grilling-focused buffet chain is the final domino to fall in the Fresh Acquisitions bankruptcy. The competition for takeout and off-premise food is very high. The buffet chain, which was founded in 1983, was once a staple of American dining, but it had fallen on hard times in recent years. Since then, Hometown Buffet has continued to close locations and is now down to just over 30 restaurants. In addition, many consumers are now more health conscious and are looking for healthier menu options when they go out to eat. Guidelines like these are either pushing buffets to shut down entirely, like in Souplantations case, or at the very least, prompting both nationwide chains and local buffets to alter their business model and restaurant design. Golden Corral is the exception to the rule that customers don't like buffets anymore. Four Hometown Buffet, Ryan's and Old Country Buffet restaurants are now closed permanently, their San Antonio-based parent company announced Friday. Is Hometown Buffet Out of Business - Chartresource The parent company of Furrs Fresh Buffet, Ryans, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and other concepts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week. The way buffets operate may change permanently because of the COVID-19 crisis. Market Realist is a registered trademark. I act like Im OK, but deep down, I miss HomeTown Buffet, another Twitter user wrote in May 2021. As with many restaurants on this list, HomeTown Buffet has faced bankruptcy in the past. After all, a buffet's most enticing factor is the one price, all you can eat aspectand, of course, the endless opportunities to go for second helpings. And any diet-conscious person who does eat at Old Country Buffet will likely cost the chain money, so that's not any better. Hometown Buffet Locations Near Me + Reviews & Menu I think its a permanent change. Unfortunately, despite the national spotlight, the franchise has continued to close up shops. The company also lists multiple disputed breach of lease claims totaling more than $2 million, as well as several other rent and sales tax debts. All four haven't seen a customer since. In early March 2018, it was announced that all Hometown Buffet locations would be closed by early May. Like many of the chains on this list, it was in steady decline before the pandemic, its restaurants dwindlingto 75 by 2019 from more than 300, according to Vox. The locations are permanently closed as of Oct. 9. You can buy the iconic soup bowl on Amazon. Pizza Inn late last month instituted what it called a contactless buffet to-gooption, offering a combination of pizzas, appetizers and desserts at three price points. The parent company of Old Country Buffet filed for bankruptcy All 13 locations closed permanently in late 2020, with company officials attributing the decision to rising food and operational costs even once restaurants had reopened from their initial COVID-19 shutdowns. Note: Cheapism does not accept or publish guest blog posts. There are also other operations outside of restaurants that rely on self-serving stations, which include grocery stores like Whole Foods. Buffets LLC, also filed bankruptcy at the same time.