TAMPA, Fla. — Soup and salad buffet chain Souplantation, which operates under the name Sweet Tomatoes outside of Southern California, will keep their doors closed even after pandemic restrictions are lifted.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the chain is closing all 90 of its restaurants across the country.
The closing will mean that 4,440 employees will lose their jobs.
“The FDA had previously put out recommendations that included discontinuing self-serve stations, like self-serve beverages in fast food, but they specifically talked about salad bars and buffets,” Garden Fresh CEO John Haywood told San Diego Union-Tribune. “The regulations are understandable, but unfortunately, it makes it very difficult to reopen. And I’m not sure the health departments are ever going to allow it."
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Perpetual Capital Partners purchased the restaurant company after it filed for bankruptcy in 2016.
This story was originally published by WFTS in Tampa.