According to an article published by the San Antonio Business Journal, no HomeTown Buffet locations remain open. At its peak, the chain had over 200 locations across the United States. As of early 2020, there are only six Hometown Buffet locations still in business. Get the best food tips and diet She and her best friend can take their young kids, who wont fuss about the wait time compared to other restaurants. These closures signal a change in the way that people are choosing to dine out. Not all closed, to be sure: Sizzler is still operating with a takeout menu, for instance. Hometown Buffet has been unable to keep up with these changes and will likely continue to decline until it is eventually forced to close its doors for good. Feeling nostalgic? 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. This will impact over 1,800 employees across the country who will now be left without a job. Four locations of these buffet restaurants in three states are officially closed. The company was based in Downey, California. The . 2023 Minnesota Public Radio. 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. The buffet concept was created by Bill Knudson and Jerry Kent, who opened the first location in Downey in 1983. As of today, 284 Golden Corral dining rooms have safely reopened across the country. Reopening regulations and consumer skittishness could force changes in thesubsector that had been in decline for some time. 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. Related:Local Burger Chains the Rest of the Country Needs. On Monday, a sign on the front door of the restaurant in the Shasta Crossroads center on Churn Creek Road. The company is privately owned, byInvestors Management Corp., a company chaired by the same man who opened the first location. Then Old Country Buffet declared bankruptcy a third time in 2016 (so much for inspiration from Aaliyah). Almost $50 million in debt is weighing the parent company, 1069 Restaurant Group, down. While Round Tables dining rooms have been closed during the crisis, its been able to maintain its sales through takeout and delivery, according to CEO Paul Damico. Nation's Restaurant News is part of the Informa Connect Division of Informa PLC. For more restaurant news and dining tips,please sign up for our free newsletters. If the family does go to church and eat afterward, they're probably eating atChipotle afterwards. Since buffets tend to cut as many corners as possible when it comes to buying their food, it's safe to say they aren't exactly making eggs from local farmers their number one priority. For a list of stores that were open prior to this change, please contact our Customer Service . HomeTown Buffet files for bankruptcy - CNBC The new owners immediately began closing down locations, and by 2013, the chain had shrunk to just over half its size. The future of Hometown Buffet is uncertain. You may not think buffet when you think Pizza Hut, and thats exactly what the company wants. About See all 4221 South H Street Bakersfield, CA 93304 For customers hungry for a more authentic dining experience, HomeTown Buffet invites you to come as you are and experience a unique restaurant concept See more "High quality food at affordable prices in a family atmosphere. Have no fear; we've compiled a list of all the CT Hometown Buffet locations. But BBQ Holdings CEO Jeff Crivello said a day after the auction that the buffet restaurants would stay closed. In the bankruptcy filing, Fresh Acquisitions listed its largest unsecured creditor as supplier Dynamic Foods of Lubbock, Texas, which is owed about $4 million. By the end of the month,its company stores were closed altogether. There is less environmental impact if you transport produce from the local farm instead of trucking it across the country. 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. 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. Despite its name, Hometown Buffet is not a regional chain; it has locations in almost every state except for Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. AsReader's Digest points out, it's not so much what they serve that makes it risky but more how they serve it. Per USA Today, the acquisition was a little shaky, with sales falling 22 percent below Ovations' expectations. HOMETOWN BUFFET, Springfield - 3000 Gateway St - Restaurant Reviews Hometown Buffet is a buffet-style restaurant chain with locations across the United States. FMP also scooped up Furrs in 2015 after that chain declared bankruptcy the year prior. But by April 2021, only six locations were open, all of which were Tahoe Joes steakhouses, according to Restaurant Business. Below are the latest Hometown Buffet menu prices. While the buffet is mocked for purportedly having low-quality food choices, its a place that many have special memories of and will miss if it disappears. All Rights Reserved. There is no word yet on other buffets opening back up at places like Whole Foods and some hotel chains. In recent years, Hometown Buffet has struggled financially, and several locations have closed. 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. Last week, the buffet chain Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes announced all 97 of its restaurants are closing permanently. The parent company of Furrs Fresh Buffet, Ryans, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and other concepts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week. buffet restaurants have been hit hard by the rise of fast casual chains like Chipotle and Panera Bread, which offer fresh, made-to-order food at a similar price point. All-you-can-eat buffets are a dying breed. One of the big differences between the chains, according to Restaurant Business, is consistency in ownership. This once-ubiquitous buffet was among the chains that shuttered as a result of parent company Fresh Acquisitions bankruptcy in 2021. Hometown Buffet is a restaurant that has been in business for over 20 years, but they announced on their website that they will be closing down in 2020. Theyre looking for restaurants that offer fresh food, a variety of menu options, and an inviting atmosphere. The locations are permanently closed as of Oct. 9. Anya Torres from Des Moines, Iowa, said some of the reasons shes such a big fan of buffets are the price, variety and convenience. As always, the safety of our teams, guests, and communities remains our highest priority. According to Restaurant Business, the COVID-19 crisis has hit buffet brands hard. Find a Hometown Buffet near you or see all Hometown Buffet locations. Sherry Buenrostro from La Nacional Mexican Buffet knows that firsthand. with the below statement: Metro Corral Partners, a Golden Corral franchise entity, notified us in advance of their intention to file voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the buffet-style restaurants closed in March 2020. 11 reviews. Hometown Buffet was one of the last major national buffet chains in operation. HomeTown Buffet was already struggling before the pandemic hit, so it's no surprise that this beloved chain has gone under. "This was an incredibly difficult decision but these locations were already suffering from declining sales before the pandemic," Jason Kemp, the VitaNova Brands president says in a statement, "with expiring leases without our ability to extend under favorable terms, we needed to make the tough call to redirect our resources to other locations in order to continue to operate our restaurants under our new concept of AYCE (all-you-can-eat) and Marketplace.". Pizza Huts dine-in restaurants, most of which feature menu service and an all-you-can eat buffet, used to be the cornerstone of the chain, but theyre quickly fading into oblivion. Reservations are not required unless dining as a group or large tour. Sorry, Old Country Buffet fans: Your favorite haunt for cheese biscuits is no more. Employees were furloughed then, but all have been notified that the four are now buffets closed for good. Hometown Buffet is a buffet-style restaurant chain with locations across the United States. HomeTown Buffet in Loma Linda - Restaurant menu and reviews Auctions in Bell Gardens, Covina, and Montebello close Wednesday, Dec. 16 while an auction in Burbank closes Friday, Dec. 18. 1999: Company purchases 80 percent stake in Tahoe Joe's, Inc. Company History: Buffets, Inc. is one of the most successful businesses in the restaurant industry, owning and operating 388 eating establishments in 36 states and franchising another 24 in ten states. Addressing federal recommendations would require a vastly different model than the one theyve employed. The companys closure leaves Golden Corral as the only major national buffet chain still in operation. At the beginning of October, news surfaced that Metro Corral Partners, which owns over 24 locations of the iconic buffet and grill Golden Corral, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Those chains could probablyshift to a different service model more easily, and they can push takeout and delivery sales more aggressively. The closure of Hometown Buffet is just the latest example of a once-popular restaurant chain struggling to stay afloat in recent years. It's not very likely you'll get your delivery driver to bring you seconds unless, of course, you pay him a second time, too. It's never a great idea to eat food that's been sitting out. Complete List of HomeTown Buffet Locations | AggData As of 2019, there are 97 Hometown Buffet locations across the United States. Hometown Buffet is a chain of buffet-style restaurants founded in 1983 in Downey, California. HomeTown Buffet. 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 chain lost at least 15 restaurantsbetween late 2019 and September 2020, according to Restaurant Business. On October 1, 2010, Nebraska couple Chris and Heather Gage dined at an Old Country Buffet in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The CEO of Global Franchise Group, Round Table Pizzas parent company, told Marketplace that Round Table may discontinue its salad bar and pizza buffet permanently. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Auction Nation has held recent auctions at Hometown Buffets in other states. Article continues below advertisement Gage's salmonella poisoning was particularly severe because of a pre-existing health condition. The pandemic was also the death knell, it seems, for HomeTown Buffet and other chains under the Fresh Acquisitions umbrella. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=2164e108-5c3a-483e-873c-8fe13d2ac7dc&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=4288231194588026286'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); In the past year, weve seen similar closures from Souplantation, Sweet Tomatoes, and Ryans Grill, Buffet & Bakery. Since then, its footprint has shrunk even further, with no locations for either Ponderosa or Bonanza listed on the website. Now he thinks we will see the removal of salad bars, and in place, prepared food thats packaged and portioned. Hometown Buffet Best Hometown Buffet Near Me See All Ralph's Barbecue 220 BBQ, Buffets 1400 Julian R Allsbrk Hwy, Weldon, NC Closed Naan Stop Indian Cuisine 214 Indian Restaurants, Buffets 2812 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC Closed Start Order Pizza Inn 22 Pizza, Italian, Buffets 1250 Coble Blvd, Henderson, NC Closed Pizza Inn 35 Pizza, Italian, Buffets 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. For broad-menu buffet concepts, the shutdown may well speed a complete shift away from that style of service that has been happening gradually for years. It opened seven new locations in 2017,and sales rose 3.7 percent. VitaNova Brands - Wikipedia The contents of 11 Hometown Buffet restaurants in California are being auctioned off in online liquidation sales. The social distancing as it relates to buffets is a challenge, said Roslyn Stone, chief operating officer for Zero Hour Health, which helps restaurant operators with food safety and health issues. The closure of Hometown Buffet marks the end of an era for buffet restaurants. Last October, the company said it was permanently closing four buffet units, including two Hometown Buffet restaurants in California, a Ryans in West Virginia and an Old Country buffet in Chicago. I think its a permanent change. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. Hometown Buffet is a chain of restaurants that offers a buffet-style meal including all-you-can-eat food and drink. Hometown Buffet - CLOSED Unclaimed Review Save Share 53 reviews $$ - $$$ American 3000 Gateway St Ste 726, Springfield, OR 97477-1033 +1 541-746-3220 Website See all (13) Ratings and reviews 53 RATINGS Food Service Value Atmosphere Details CUISINES American Meals Lunch, Brunch, Breakfast, Dinner FEATURES Seating, Wheelchair Accessible See all (3) Enhance this page - Upload photos! 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. Fielding Buck has reported throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles. Its new owner, BBQ Holdings, is also declining to bring it back. St aint been right since they closed down HomeTown Buffet, one person tweeted in Sept. 2020. Regardless of the service approach, all utensils are changed out every 20 minutes, and new social distancing and enhanced sanitation protocols are in place at all restaurants. Even places like Five Guys and Shake Shack (which is, after all, leading the burger revolution) are trying to make the average hamburger joint a gourmet-ish experience but it still better be quick! The company was acquired by Ovation Brands in 2008. Choose your state to find the nearest one or view the Hometown Buffet menu. Everybodys happy.. Try our delicious grill. The leaders of Golden Corral are clearly very loyal to the brand. Sherry Buenrostro has operated La Nacional Mexican Buffet in Columbus, Georgia, along with her husband and parents-in-law, for nearly 20 years. This buffet chain serving endless pizza, salad, and dessert has been going strong for more than 60 years and still has dozens of restaurants spread across the South. Parent company VitaNova Brands, based in San Antonio, Texas, announced the closures, saying it allows them to focus on a new line of restaurants. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you. Customers began picking up their purchases immediately after the auction closed at the Loma Linda restaurant, where a sign at the entrance reading open for takeout was true for one last time. Competing chains Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes have been through a bankruptcy filing, and the parent company of Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet has been through multiple such filings. These Buffet Restaurant Chains Have Closed Locations Permanently - Cheapism 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. That could require massive changes at buffet concepts, or their end altogether, says RBs The Bottom Line. Enhanced delivery, takeout, and curbside pick-up are available at all locations. California Hometown Buffet locations (52), Connecticut Hometown Buffet locations (6), Massachusetts Hometown Buffet locations (1). As a result of these factors, Hometown Buffet has closed many of its locations in recent years. When states shut dining rooms, it shifted to takeout only. In June 2020, FMP Management ceased operations, entering bankruptcy itself. Overall the spaces are more efficient for a high volume of people, but staff and patrons alike have plenty of room to prepare and scarf down some legit Southern style pot roast and fried chicken. Can you believe there was a time when you donned your Sunday best to go to Old Country Buffet? Theres nobody else in Columbus like us, she said. Will this be the end of an era? Restaurant Business reported on HomeTown Buffet and its sibling chainsTahoe Joe's, Old Country Buffet, Ryan's, Fire Mountain, and Furr'sin April 2021. 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. FMP expanded the chain to over 200 locations by 2000. By Jonathan Maze on Jun. } However, in recent years, the company has been struggling to keep up with the changing landscape of the restaurant industry. In addition, many consumers are now looking for restaurants that offer healthy options, something that mostbuffets lack. Clearly there's no shortage of carbs in this country so, what gives? Unfortunately for businesses like Old Country Buffet, buffets are often synonymous with obesity. Yet buffets might be in a bind for a while. Why did old country buffet go out of business? 6 Hometown Buffet Locations in Connecticut (CT, US) Enfield Hometown Buffet Manchester Hometown Buffet Milford Hometown Buffet These Adored Buffet Restaurants Are Now Closed for Good, 9 Restaurant Chains That Closed Hundreds of Locations This Summer. Hometown Buffet was founded in 1983 and was based in Downey, California. And many of them already had financial problems and limited options from potential investors from the get-go. While this is unfortunate news for the company and their employees, it is indicative of a larger trend in the restaurant industry. Buffet restaurants have faced many challenges in recent years, from increasing food costs to competition from fast casual restaurants. "Recovery has been steady, but slow, and some franchisees will not be able to continue to operate without additional financial relief.". 1996: HomeTown Buffet is acquired. And we're not just talking about broken froyo machines at the lunch rush. Chain Restaurants That Are Closing Locations, this old Old Country Buffet training video, Local Burger Chains the Rest of the Country Needs, Age Pays: 130+ Senior Discounts (Some Starting at Age 50! The chains new owners hope to turn things around with more of a focus on delivery. The chain is known for its all-you-can-eat buffet style, which allows customers to sample a variety of dishes. Still in mourning? Undercooked chicken is no joke. The first Hometown Buffet opened in 1984 in San Bernardino, California. Similarly, many other buffet concepts shut their doors, including Sweet Tomatoes, HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet and others. Golden Corral is the exception to the rule that customers don't like buffets anymore. Old Country Buffet, Ryan's, HomeTown Buffet owners declare bankruptcy Sign up here. For this reason, a couple craving steamed pork dumplings would probably prefer to get them at that specialty dumpling hole in the wall than at the local all-you-can-eat buffet. And in Nov. 2021, a third user tweeted, I havent fully been myself since HomeTown Buffet closed.. HomeTown Buffet provides high quality food at affordable prices in a family friendly atmosphere. This cafeteria-style buffet has a long, storied history in its home state of Texas. Sales last year increased 0.8%, though unit count declined 1.2%, according to Technomic. He underwent a two-week hospital stint and multiple surgeries, and as of 2015 remained in constant chronic pain. } else { Hometown Buffet announced that it would be closing down all of its restaurants this week, news that sent shockwaves through the already beleaguered restaurant industry. The company plansto reopen as many Furrs as possible, contingent upon pandemic restrictions and landlord negotiations, she said. And who could blame them? Here's a look at all the once-mighty buffet chains that have recently closed locations or disappeared altogether. Add it all together, and this might well be the end for a massive portion of the broad-menu buffet business. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Golden Corral filed for bankruptcy, but to clarify, it was a franchise company that did so. It's been a tough year for all-you-can-eat neighborhood restaurants, and there are four other buffet closures to know about. 2.3 overall rating across Sign up to receive texts from Restaurant Business on news and insights that matter to your brand. announced all 97 of its restaurants are closing permanently, allocating $2.4 million to remodel the area, How the CBO became God in Washingtons budget battles, How a food business tied to the hotel industry is recovering from COVID-19, Cruise ships, eager to sail, offer free trial voyages, Warren Buffetts next venture: the Celebrity Apprentice, Buffett says airlines are now a good investment. Buffet chains have been hit particularly hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic since their business models depend on in-person dining and self service, which is currently banned by state COVID-19 guidelines. I dont know if anything will ever go back to what the norm was before, Buenrostro said. Hometown Buffet permanently closes Downey location Hometown Buffet operated 123 locations in 26 states across the United States. Registered in England and Wales. DOWNEY Hometown Buffet has permanently closed its Downey location, effective Nov. 6. Hundreds of dine-in Pizza Huts closed from 2019 through 2020, continuing a renewed focus on takeout and delivery. Yet buffets might be in a bind for a while. Theyre redoing their menu, paying more staff to attend to customers, and trying to partner with delivery services to boost takeout sales. In Oct. 2021, BBQ Holdingsthe parent company of the barbecue restaurant chain Famous Daveswon a bankruptcy auction for Fresh Acquisitions LLC, agreeing to pay $5.2 million in the deal. Most closed early in the health crisis, including Souplantation, which declared bankruptcy in May. The typical limited-service buffet concept saw unit count decline 10.3% last year, according to, Golden Corral added safeguards to its buffets, its company stores were closed altogether, Bojangles makes no bones about its future, Pollo Tropical starts the year off with more customers and better profits, For Wendy's, keeping pace with competitors is harder than it looks, Jack in the Box reaches a 'turning point' in its bid for growth, Chevys Fresh Mex owner adds 2 more brands to portfolio. Simply click on the Hometown Buffet location below to find out where it is located and if it received positive reviews. Just like streaming services and at-home theater systems make you never want to leave your house to see movies anymore, delivery apps are making dining at restaurants, including Old Country Buffet, seem obsolete. His beats have included, business, dining, entertainment, and Southern California theme parks. HomeTown Buffet - Home - Facebook Buffet chains have been hit particularly hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic since their business models. But as restaurant chains have become more sophisticated, diners have become more selective about where they choose to eat. 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. 10 Popular Buffet Chains Closing Locations Permanently But then Buffets, Inc. filed again in 2012, shedding more debt and cutting back more of its 494 buffets. Visitors don't highly appreciate ice cream and chocolate frappe at HomeTown Buffet. The buffet industry has seen better days. Hometown Buffet has been a staple in the community for over 30 years, but its recently closed its doors. The way buffets operate may change permanently because of the COVID-19 crisis. Have no fear; weve compiled a list of all the Hometown Buffet locations. In 2008, FMP filed for bankruptcy and sold Hometown Buffet to Ovation Brands. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); By the time FMP Management bought the company (then called Ovation Brands) in 2015, the company only had 300 locations, and it declared bankruptcy again in 2016. All-you-can-eat buffets have also come under fire for being wasteful and contributing to rising obesity rates. But its footprint has shrunk: Parent company Rave Restaurant Group operated 155 Pizza Inns at the end of 2019, but the Pizza Inn website shows only about 140 locations open currently. Asked about the fate of other banners, the spokeswoman said it was up to the courts.. The decline of the all-you-can-eat buffet is a trend that is being mirrored across the restaurant industry. The typical limited-service buffet concept saw unit count decline 10.3% last year, according to Restaurant Business sister company Technomic, while sales fell 9.1%. CT Hometown Buffet Locations Near Me - Menuism VitaNova shut down the locations in March when the coronavirus pandemic began. The state of Georgia has also asked restaurants that are reopening to do so. Winsight is a leading B2B information services company focused on the food and beverage industry, providing insight and market intelligence to business leaders in every channel consumers buy food and beverage convenience stores, grocery retailing, restaurants and noncommercial foodservice through media, events, data products, advisory services, and trade shows. However, in recent years, the company had been struggling financially and had been forced to close down several locations. 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. These days there's a restaurant for pretty much every kind of niche food you can think of, from chicken and waffles to Indonesian stew. In addition, many consumers are now more health conscious and are looking for healthier menu options when they go out to eat. The company has recently announced that it will be closing all of its Hometown Buffet locations, including their flagship location in Downey, California.