Golden Corral Chain Faces Closures Amidst Expansion Plans
The buffet chain acknowledges recent restaurant shutdowns but projects growth through 2027 with new locations in development.
Golden Corral, a prominent all-you-can-eat buffet chain, is navigating a period of both closures and expansion. The company has confirmed that six of its restaurants have ceased operations over the past nine months, with locations in states including Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas affected. Despite these shutdowns, Golden Corral is actively planning for growth, with six new outposts currently in the works and projections for further expansion through 2027.
The recent closures include a Canton, Ohio, location that closed Feb. 1 after a 20-year run, and an Alton, Illinois, restaurant that shut its doors on April 30 due to unsustainable operating conditions. In Florida, the Boynton Beach location closed July 26 citing lease expiration and operational changes. Idaho's Boise restaurant ceased operations in September without public disclosure of reasons, while Brownsville, Texas, closed Sept. 14 due to mandatory renovation requirements and rising costs.
Despite these individual restaurant challenges, the chain points to an overall resurgence in the appeal of buffet dining. Yelp's 2026 Food & Drink Trends report indicates a significant increase in searches for buffet-style dining, with Asian buffets like dim sum, sushi, Korean BBQ, and hot pot seeing substantial year-over-year growth. Golden Corral itself is investing in new developments, with two new restaurants already under construction in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Kissimmee, Florida. Four additional locations are in pre-construction stages in Baytown, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Spanish Fort, Alabama; and St. Petersburg, Florida.
Texas continues to be the state with the most Golden Corral locations, boasting 47 restaurants, followed by Florida with 31 and North Carolina with 26. The company's history dates back to 1973 in North Carolina, with the buffet format introduced in the 1980s. The chain often evokes nostalgia for those who frequented it during their childhoods, with social media posts frequently recalling fond memories of family meals at the restaurants.