Golden Corral Expands Despite Recent Closures

Key points

• The company confirmed six new sites are in development, with two under construction in Tennessee and Florida.
• Closures have occurred in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Florida, Idaho, and Texas over the past nine months.
• Management states many closed locations may reopen under new franchise owners.
• Texas holds the most locations with 47, followed by Florida with 31.

Background

This follows a trend of restaurant chain restructuring seen in 2026, where chains like True Food Kitchen and Marmalade Cafe filed for bankruptcy or closed sites due to financial pressures and rising costs.

Why it matters

The strategy shows how buffet chains adapt to rising operational costs by shifting from corporate to franchise models while maintaining growth.

What to watch

The company expects to continue expanding into 2027, with four more sites in pre-construction across Texas, Puerto Rico, Alabama, and Florida.