Scott left in 1989 to start HomeTown Buffet, but the two chains merged in September 1996. Even if Old Country Buffet did start partnering with Uber Eats, it seems like something that wouldn't work well. (These aren't the only eateries to say goodbye to, here are 9 Restaurant Chains That Closed Hundreds of Locations This Summer.) xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Find a Hometown Buffet near you or see all Hometown Buffet locations. It also creates a sense of self-reliance and food security within communities. Hometown Buffet was one of many buffet chains to suffer as a result. With the need for 75% capacity required to begin to turn a profit in the all-you-can-eat category, the short-term future of the buffet concept is heavily predicated on reopening restrictions easing further and consumers' appetite to return to large, shared spaces, the VitaNova spokeswoman said, /sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_nrn/images/logos/footer.png, Plans call for focus on Tahoe Joes, Furrs AYCE Marketplace concepts, 2023 Informa USA, Inc., All rights reserved. The chain is known for its all-you-can-eat buffet style, which allows customers to sample a variety of dishes. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. In recent years, Hometown Buffet has struggled financially, and several locations have closed. Marketplace is a division of MPR's 501 (c)(3). There have only been three CEOs in the entire history of the chain, which was founded in 1973 in North Carolina. 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. He underwent a two-week hospital stint and multiple surgeries, and as of 2015 remained in constant chronic pain. But BBQ Holdings CEO Jeff Crivello said a day after the auction that the buffet restaurants would stay closed. 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. More and more Americans are watching their waistlines, and buffets are often seen as an indulgence that is best avoided. Pizza Inns sales rose 1.8% last year, while Iowa-based Pizza Ranchs sales increased 7.3%. More people are choosing farm to table (or farm to fork) restaurants because it's arguably better for the planet. 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. Brands says more closings are likely in the future, too. While this is unfortunate news for the company and their employees, it is indicative of a larger trend in the restaurant industry. But it, too, was already struggling, and was ultimately brought down for good in parent company Fresh Acquisitions bankruptcy. Theres a lot happening in the world. 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. MoviePass is coming back, but are moviegoers? The chain, born in the 70s, at one point had more than 500 family-friendly steakhouse buffet restaurantssprinkled across the country and employed more than 20,000 people. Ovation brands also owns Old Country Buffet, Ryans Grill, Fire Mountain, and Tahoe Joes Famous Steakhouse. 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. And in Las Vegas, which is known for its higher-end buffets, one resort is doling out a lot of money to ensure its survival. Feeling nostalgic? Golden Corral created a new floor plan for all its restaurants a couple years ago. Locations outside of Southern California being liquidated include Fairfield, Santa Maria, Stockton, and Turlock in auctions closing Tuesday through Friday. Hometown Buffet offers a variety of food and drink options, including a salad bar, hot entrees, and a dessert bar. Market Realist is a registered trademark. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and was purchased by Ovation Brands in 2009. Yet another pizza buffet thats had a rough go of it, Gattis is primarily a Southern chain that prides itself on freshness, and most locations have game rooms to draw in kids. 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. Breaking news: Wildly popular HomeTown Buffet in Salinas abruptly closes doors, no warning to roughly 30 employees, told to return this afternoon for final check.. pic.twitter.com/70G4Z4DXhC. The company has recently announced that it will be closing all of its Hometown Buffet locations, including their flagship location in Downey, California. At its peak, the chain had over 200 locations across the United States. All-you-can-eat buffets are no longer as popular as they once were, and many restaurants are struggling toadapt to this change. That means those self-service drink stations at many fast-food restaurants will be gone for the time being. 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. You can buy the iconic soup bowl on Amazon. Four Hometown Buffet, Ryan's and Old Country Buffet restaurants are now closed permanently, their San Antonio-based parent company announced Friday. Fresh Acquisitions LLC and 14 other affiliated companies which collectively own Old Country Buffet, Ryan's, HomeTown Buffet, Country Buffet and Fire Mountain, Furr's and Tahoe Joe's . 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 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. 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. Related: 30 American-Themed Restaurants and Attractions Around the World. See all (3) Enhance this page - Upload photos! At this restaurant, clients can try nicely cooked fried chicken, pot roast and roasted chicken. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Sherry Buenrostro has operated La Nacional Mexican Buffet in Columbus, Georgia, along with her husband and parents-in-law, for nearly 20 years. HomeTown Buffet and several affiliated buffet chains on Monday filed for its third Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing in eight years, according to court documents, potentially affecting more . Lunch buffet fans lost the place where they could slurp soup, get their greens, and indulge in endless bread and soft serve in March 2020, when Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes shut their doors. The closure of Hometown Buffet marks the end of an era for buffet restaurants. Now he thinks we will see the removal of salad bars, and in place, prepared food thats packaged and portioned. 988 Goodman Rd, Horn Lake, MS 38637", https://web.archive.org/web/20050315003554/http://www.buffet.com/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VitaNova_Brands&oldid=1138835566, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 22:20. HomeTown Buffet provides high quality food at affordable prices in a family friendly atmosphere. As a result of these factors, Hometown Buffet has closed many of its locations in recent years. 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. Hundreds of dine-in Pizza Huts closed from 2019 through 2020, continuing a renewed focus on takeout and delivery. advice every day. View the Hometown Buffet menu, read Hometown Buffet reviews, and get Hometown Buffet hours and directions. 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. Get todays need-to-know restaurant industry intelligence. Those concepts might have an easier adjustment to the new reality. The future of Hometown Buffet is uncertain. But by April 2021, only six locations were open, all of which were Tahoe Joes steakhouses, according to Restaurant Business. However, in recent years, the company has been struggling to keep up with the changing landscape of the restaurant industry. All restaurants burn through cash when they are closed. Even if the closed restaurant locations could be reopened immediately, the debtors believe that the short-term costs of maintaining the leases would outweigh any potential long-term benefits from operating the restaurants therein, the filing stated. At one point the only thing Americans loved more than eating, was eating at a buffet. 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 Darren Tristano, the CEO and founder of Food Service Results, said buffet restaurants had already been in decline for 20 years, driven by consumers change in taste for healthier options. St aint been right since they closed down HomeTown Buffet, one person tweeted in Sept. 2020. 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. 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. We have no immediate plans to reopen any of the buffet brands, he said, reports Restaurant Business. As of January 15, 2021, all Old Country, HomeTown, and Ryan's Buffet locations have permanently closed, and nearly all have been auctioned off by Auction Nation. According to a neurologist that testified at the August 2014 court hearing, Chris suffered brain damage from the salmonella, which has resulted in persistent nausea, balance issues, coordination issues, cognitive defects, emotional control issues, and speech problems. Fielding Buck has reported throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles. From the kitchens, items include ice machines, deep fryers and dented serving pans. All Rights Reserved. to reopen as many Furrs as possible, contingent upon pandemic restrictions and landlord negotiations, she said. There is no word yet on other buffets opening back up at places like Whole Foods and some hotel chains. After Buffets, Inc (who owns chains like Old Country Buffet, Home Town Buffet, and Ryan's) filed for bankruptcy in 2012, they closed 16 percent of their restaurants, according to Forbes. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. Below are the latest Hometown Buffet menu prices. Simply click on the Hometown Buffet location below to find out where it is located and if it received positive reviews. Ultimately, all restaurants are hoping they can make it to the day when they can reopen dining rooms and customers return.