Category: Franchise

Centre County residents who have long wanted Golden Corral to open locally may see their wish come true.

Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary joined ‘Cavuto: Coast to Coast’ to discuss the recent Placer.ai report indicating that buffet restaurants are up 125% from 2021. 

All-you-can-eat buffets are back in a huge way post-pandemic, making them a more affordable option than a regular restaurant.

In March, visits to three leading buffets — Golden Corral, Cicis, and Pizza Ranch — were up 125% from January of 2021, according to data from Placer.ai, which tracks foot traffic at restaurants and stores.

Three years later, the buffet concept is rebounding back quickly. While the total dollars being spent at buffets are still lower than the $7.95 billion brought in pre-pandemic, it has grown steadily from between 2021 and 2022.

For some time, traffic to the dining industry has been impacted by inflationary pressures on consumer spending. Various restaurant categories have seen a decline in visits, and yet, some chains – and formats like “eatertainment” – are weathering the storm. 

From double-digit same-store sales growth over 2019 levels, to catching up with technology and opening a new offshoot concept, Golden Corral is busy these days.

Since we last visited with Dave Gronewoller in 2014, he’s been busy adding more Golden Corral locations, has formed two new businesses, and has had the privilege of opening the first of Golden Corral’s new prototypes.