Sweet Tomatoes - Buffet closing

[Far West]

I haven't been there in a while, but I hate that it is closing. This restaurant (pictured below) is across the street from our hotel. Its food is fresh, gets great reviews and is family /kid friendly. This particular one was where we would meet when we were in college - easy to get to and great for a large group get together.

My sons and I met every so often at Sweet Tomatoes at Barrett Parkway ... same chain, different name. I know the news keeps talking about Covid-19 changing us. I think once we get through this, like H1N1, we will put it behind us and forget, and be back to buffets, stadiums, movie theaters, and conventions. Maybe I am naive, but I would totally go out to a buffet once this is behind us.

Souplantation Is No More | San Diego-Based Restaurant Chain Will Not Reopen


May 7, 2020


The first Souplantation restaurant was opened by founder Dennis Jay in 1978 on Mission Gorge Road in San Diego. After growing to two locations with the help of friends, Jay sold the pair of buffett-style eateries to Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp in 1983. The eatery grew to over 130 locations over the years, with all those located outside of California named Sweet Tomatoes. In 2016, the company filed for bankruptcy and shuttered dozens of outposts, but 97 locations remained as of this year.

Souplantation Is No More | San Diego-Based Restaurant Chain Will Not Reopen

Founded in San Diego 42 years ago, Souplantation's parent company Garden Fresh Restaurants has laid off its workforce after announcing it would not be reopening due to uncertainty for the buffet restaurant sector in the face of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

www.sandiegoville.com

 

[J-man]

I’m missing the Ichiban Buffet (Chinese) in Hiram. Hopefully it doesn’t permanently close so I can go back soon. It’s amazing how much variety they offer for the price and the owners are very nice.

 

[Stonewall]

Unfortunately the days of the buffet may be all but over. The business had better be financially sound to absorb losses from either no business or very limited business for some time to come. The food industry is a very hard business to manage with lots of waste and small profit margins as it is.

 

[The Sound Guy]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that a lot of the mom and pop buffets around are not going to survive if the government manages to drag this thing out through the end of 2020 like they want to.

 

[lotstodo]

I haven't been there in a while, but I hate that it is closing. This restaurant (pictured below) is across the street from our hotel. Its food is fresh, gets great reviews and is family /kid friendly. This particular one was where we would meet when we were in college - easy to get to and great for a large group get together.

My sons and I met every so often at Sweet Tomatoes at Barrett Parkway ... same chain, different name. I know the news keeps talking about Covid-19 changing us. I think once we get through this, like H1N1, we will put it behind us and forget, and be back to buffets, stadiums, movie theaters, and conventions. Maybe I am naive, but I would totally go out to a buffet once this is behind us.

Souplantation Is No More | San Diego-Based Restaurant Chain Will Not Reopen


May 7, 2020


The first Souplantation restaurant was opened by founder Dennis Jay in 1978 on Mission Gorge Road in San Diego. After growing to two locations with the help of friends, Jay sold the pair of buffett-style eateries to Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp in 1983. The eatery grew to over 130 locations over the years, with all those located outside of California named Sweet Tomatoes. In 2016, the company filed for bankruptcy and shuttered dozens of outposts, but 97 locations remained as of this year.

Souplantation Is No More | San Diego-Based Restaurant Chain Will Not Reopen

Founded in San Diego 42 years ago, Souplantation's parent company Garden Fresh Restaurants has laid off its workforce after announcing it would not be reopening due to uncertainty for the buffet restaurant sector in the face of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

www.sandiegoville.com

Oh man I hate that. They are my great nephew's favorite restaurant. They always have good food and they know him by name there.

 

[Guard Dad]

My daughter loved to eat there.

 

[Far West]

Oh man I hate that. They are my great nephew's favorite restaurant. They always have good food and they know him by name there.

Yes!

Our families that are visiting always thank us for the suggestion of this restaurant because the kids love it.

My kids always loved buffets. To celebrate their A's on their report cards, they got to choose a restaurant to go to for dinner. Ryan's was also a favorite, in addition to a Chinese restaurant that had a nice buffet. I just don't think Buffets are never coming back... I think we just need to get through this stupid covid-19 thing, 3 months later, we will all be back to living, socializing, attending concert or stadium events, and even movies just the way we did before the outbreak.

Honestly, at this point, I am so tired of wearing a mask and being micromanaged by "officials", that I would probably go sit in a restaurant, and quite possibly go to one that served a buffet... just to say "screw you" to the all knowing idiot politicians who are choosing favorites, and not allowing the public to decide where and when they will use a business.

The more I have tried to get caught up on things that I had put off, since I have been working so much, the more I realized the things the state made shut down. Then there is the favoritism of which businesses are now allowed to open. I suspect the lobbyists are stronger and more powerful than that of say, a hairdresser.

 

[lotstodo]

Yes!

Our families that are visiting always thank us for the suggestion of this restaurant because the kids love it.

My kids always loved buffets. To celebrate their A's on their report cards, they got to choose a restaurant to go to for dinner. Ryan's was also a favorite, in addition to a Chinese restaurant that had a nice buffet. I just don't think Buffets are never coming back... I think we just need to get through this stupid covid-19 thing, 3 months later, we will all be back to living, socializing, attending concert or stadium events, and even movies just the way we did before the outbreak.

Honestly, at this point, I am so tired of wearing a mask and being micromanaged by "officials", that I would probably go sit in a restaurant, and quite possibly go to one that served a buffet... just to say "screw you" to the all knowing idiot politicians who are choosing favorites, and not allowing the public to decide where and when they will use a business.

The more I have tried to get caught up on things that I had put off, since I have been working so much, the more I realized the things the state made shut down. Then there is the favoritism of which businesses are now allowed to open. I suspect the lobbyists are stronger and more powerful than that of say, a hairdresser.

He has Asperger's. "His waitress" always brought him a small plate of macaroni salad with the drinks because she knew he loved it and sometimes didn't want to wait for us adults to get up and go get our food. She would also hand him the bill with a piece of candy. He got upset the first time because he thought he would have to pay. After that he got the "joke". It was one of the first times he learned not to take something literally. He's 15 now and I'm sure he will really miss her more than the restaurant.