Golden Corral is shutting down some of its restaurants across the United States, even as the buffet chain prepares to open new locations in several markets. Seven restaurants have closed across seven states over the past nine months, with franchise owners citing rising expenses, expiring leases and other business challenges.
The closures have taken place at different times in 2026, and the reasons vary by location. The latest shutdown was in Independence, Missouri, where the restaurant at 19120 E. Valley View Parkway closed on Oct. 4 after serving customers for about 15 years, according to The Kansas City Star. Two managers confirmed the closure to the newspaper before the restaurant’s final weekend.
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Other locations have also ended operations this year. The Golden Corral in Canton, Ohio, closed on Feb. 1 after more than two decades in business. In Alton, Illinois, the restaurant shut down on April 30 after its owners determined that continuing operations was no longer financially sustainable.
The Davenport, Iowa, location closed on July 6 without a publicly disclosed reason. Later that month, the Boynton Beach, Florida, restaurant shut down on July 26 after its lease expired amid operational changes.
In September, the chain lost two more locations. The Boise, Idaho, restaurant closed without a public explanation, while the Brownsville, Texas, location shut down on Sept. 14. The franchise owner in Brownsville cited the cost of required renovations, along with rising expenses, including rent.
Despite the closures, Golden Corral says it has no plans to stop expanding. The company told USA TODAY that six new restaurants are in development and that it intends to continue growing through 2027. Some of the closed restaurants could also reopen under new franchise owners.
Two projects are already underway in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Kissimmee, Florida. Four other locations are in the pre-construction stage in Baytown, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Spanish Fort, Alabama; and St. Petersburg, Florida.
The expansion plans suggest that the recent shutdowns do not necessarily signal a broader retreat by the company. Instead, the situation points to different financial and operational pressures facing individual franchise locations, even as Golden Corral continues to pursue growth in other markets.
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The buffet chain remains widely established across the country. According to its restaurant locator, Texas has the largest number of Golden Corral locations, with 47 restaurants. Florida follows with 31, while North Carolina has 26.
Golden Corral is known for its all-you-can-eat format, offering carved meats, fried chicken, salads, side dishes and desserts. Its ability to maintain that model while managing higher operating expenses and developing new locations will be important as the company moves into 2027.