Parent of Ryan's, Hometown Buffet and other chains files bankruptcy But if more families are opting to sleep in on Sunday mornings, it's probable they're just eating lunch at home. 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. The company faces stiff competition from other buffet chains, as well as from fast casual restaurants that offer made-to-order meals. 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. Reservations are not required unless dining as a group or large tour. Sadly, in 2020, the pandemic-battered company announced plans to liquidate, and closed all locations by June 2022. The buffet industry has seen better days. 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. The contents of 11 Hometown Buffet restaurants in California are being auctioned off in online liquidation sales. I dont know if anything will ever go back to what the norm was before, Buenrostro said. Old Country Buffet closes last Illinois restaurant Theyre redoing their menu, paying more staff to attend to customers, and trying to partner with delivery services to boost takeout sales. Is Hometown Buffet Out of Business - Chartresource The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcyin the fall of 2020, citing a huge decline in dine-in business and trouble negotiating rent relief with landlords. ), 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 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 It is unclear what will happen to the Hometown Buffet locations that are currently in operation. The company has recently announced that it will be closing all of its Hometown Buffet locations, including their flagship location in Downey, California. 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. Theres nobody else in Columbus like us, she said. The Food and Drug Administration has released a series of best practices for restaurants, which include discontinuing self-serving stations that require customers to use common utensils or dispensers, like salad bars and 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. The company had filed for bankruptcy twice in the past decade, and its most recent filing showed that it owed creditors nearly $100 million. The endless scroll struggle is real. According to Restaurant Business, the COVID-19 crisis has hit buffet brands hard. Note: Cheapism does not accept or publish guest blog posts. 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. On Wednesday, January 2, 2019, it was announced that Hometown Buffet, a restaurant chain specializing in an all-you-can-eat buffet of American food items, would be closing down all of its company-owned locations. In 2017, Hometown Buffetufffds parent company, Downey Financial Corp., filed for bankruptcy. Hometown Buffet was founded in 1983 and was based in Downey, California. This grilling-focused buffet chain is the final domino to fall in the Fresh Acquisitions bankruptcy. New service models have been developed to comply with variations in local guidelines and provide our guests an enjoyable Golden Corral experience. 11 reviews. As of 2019, there are 97 Hometown Buffet locations across the United States. The company has not said if they will be sold or simply shuttered. Hometown Buffet has been on a slow decline since then, closing dozens of locations over the past decade. There are currently six Tahoe Joe's operating today, a spokeswoman for VitaNova Brands told Nations Restaurant News. Yet buffets might be in a bind for a while. 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. Anthony Wedo, the CEO of Old Country Buffet's parent company, Buffets Inc., was even on the CBS hit show Undercover Boss in 2013 in an effort to reinvigorate the company's name after it fell on hard times. If fewer people are making it to service on Sunday, then it makes sense that the post-church lunch at Old Country Buffet is also on the decline. The concept of the buffet, which was once popular among restaurants, is now declining in popularity. Hometown Buffet was an American buffet restaurant chain founded in 1983. The leaders of Golden Corral are clearly very loyal to the brand. 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. Reference: hometown buffet closing 2020. https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2021/04/21/owners-of-classic-buffet-brands-declare-bankruptcy.html, 10 Ways Shopping at an Online Pharmacy Will Save You Time and Money, Where Do You See Your Business in 5 Years Time. All restaurants burn through cash when they are closed. 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. In 2008, FMP filed for bankruptcy and sold Hometown Buffet to Ovation Brands. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. It also closed down dozens of locations in the past few years as it struggled to stay afloat. The latest from Restaurant Business, sent straight to your inbox. Related:Chain Restaurants That Are Closing Locations. The decline of the all-you-can-eat buffet is a trend that is being mirrored across the restaurant industry. 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. But then Buffets, Inc. filed again in 2012, shedding more debt and cutting back more of its 494 buffets. HomeTown Buffet - Home - Facebook Simply click on the Hometown Buffet location below to find out where it is located and if it received positive reviews. (These aren't the only eateries to say goodbye to, here are 9 Restaurant Chains That Closed Hundreds of Locations This Summer.) Simply click on the Hometown Buffet location below to find out where it is located and if it received positive reviews. But other major chains are still trying to preserve the options theyve typically offered. As with many restaurants on this list, HomeTown Buffet has faced bankruptcy in the past. Trying to find a Hometown Buffet? This is a significant decrease from the over 200 locations that the chain once had. Its new owner, BBQ Holdings, is also declining to bring it back. He underwent a two-week hospital stint and multiple surgeries, and as of 2015 remained in constant chronic pain. 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. According to an article published by the San Antonio Business Journal, no HomeTown Buffet locations remain open. The nations most recognizable buffet chain survived COVID-19, but not without some serious damage. Two HomeTown Buffets, one Ryan's, and one Old Country Buffet are now buffets closed for good. 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. National restaurant group permanently closes several Hometown Buffet Rowland and Jensen left in 1986 to start Homestyle Buffet in Clearwater, Florida . Four locations of these buffet restaurants in three states are officially closed. The decline of the buffet is due to a variety of factors, including the rise of health consciousness and the popularity of healthy eating, the rise of food delivery and takeaway options, and the increasing cost of food. Amid the upheaval, VitaNova Brands began managing Fresh Acquisitions restaurants in Jan. 2021, and Fresh Acquisitions went into bankruptcy in April 2021. Anya Torres from Des Moines, Iowa, said some of the reasons shes such a big fan of buffets are the price, variety and convenience. The rise of fast casual dining chains such as Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill has made it difficult for Hometown Buffet to compete. This North Carolina-based cafeteria buffet declared bankruptcy in September 2020, and loyal patrons have far fewer locations where they can chow down on Southern comfort staples. Article continues below advertisement 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. Per USA Today, the acquisition was a little shaky, with sales falling 22 percent below Ovations' expectations. Sherry Buenrostro from La Nacional Mexican Buffet knows that firsthand. St aint been right since they closed down HomeTown Buffet, one person tweeted in Sept. 2020. Before Old Country Buffet filed for bankruptcy the first time in 2008, its parent company Buffets, Inc. had merged with Ryan's Restaurant Group in 2006, and was high rolling as the country's largest buffet chain. The pandemic was also the death knell, it seems, for HomeTown Buffet and other chains under the Fresh Acquisitions umbrella. Although the restaurant has been temporarily closed since March due to COVID-19, the permanent closure is a result of its expiring lease and inability to negotiate a favorable extension, company officials said. The company was acquired by Ovation Brands in 2008. Parent of Old Country Buffet and Ryan's Declares Bankruptcy