Souplantation To Close Permanently Because Of Coronavirus Pandemic
SAN DIEGO (CBSLA) — Souplantation — the buffet-style restaurant with a large cult following of families, hipsters and frugal eaters — will reportedly close for good because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The chain, which is known as Sweet Tomatoes outside of the Los Angeles area, shut down in March along with all other eat-in restaurants. But with other reopening states explicitly not including buffets or salad bars, both of which are core to Souplantation's model, the company said it did not see a way forward.
So sad to hear @souplantation is closing. It was the perfect place to take a toddler just learning about different foods. pic.twitter.com/DUcUBoXA71
— Tina Patel (@tina_patel) May 8, 2020
The closure means 97 restaurants will be permanently shuttered, and more than 4,000 employees will lose their jobs.
Souplantation's parent company, San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurants, told the Los Angeles Times they considered applying for a loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but with reopening their restaurants looking unlikely, they couldn't take the money because it would be "disingenuous."
Fans of Souplantation took to Twitter to mourn together.
No bigger heartbreak than hearing Souplantation is closed forever
— kells (@kellyynguyeen) May 7, 2020
Corona claiming Souplantation is my breaking point and villain origin story
— lane (@elenastanley_) May 7, 2020
I have no right to feel this emotionally distraught over the extinction of a restaurant chain called Souplantation but here I am
— Jenny Nicholson ???????????????? (@JennyENicholson) May 7, 2020
souplantation is closing forever and so is my heart
— jules ???? (@oatfairy) May 7, 2020
Souplantation closing down is the worst news to drop to my mom this mothers day
— dumbfoundead.eth (@dumbfoundead) May 7, 2020
today is a sad day for buffet-obsessed immigrant families ????
— Jenny Yang (@jennyyangtv) May 7, 2020
RIP @souplantation
i grew up at the one in torrance. this was the only non-asian restaurant my parents enjoyed. mostly because they had coupons all the time and a senior discount. pic.twitter.com/J99HDdbNHv
Another buffet-style restaurant, Hometown Buffet, actually kept its Covina location open for takeout service. It's not clear what will happen next for other buffet-focused restaurants, which are popular in the San Gabriel Valley.