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A brand new restaurant in Southern California goals to deliver again the fond recollections of Souplantation by providing an analogous all-you-can-eat expertise.
The family-run restaurant referred to as “Soup ‘n Fresh” is positioned in Rancho Cucamonga and is closely impressed by the favored buffet chain that shuttered throughout the pandemic.
Lengthy traces of excited diners had been seen trailing out the door and across the parking because the restaurant held a smooth opening on Feb. 28.
Images and movies flooded social media displaying keen guests excited to as soon as once more get pleasure from their favourite soups and salads.
Soup ‘n Contemporary opened up in an area that previously housed a Souplantation positioned on Foothill Boulevard and Winery Avenue.
The restaurant’s look and setup seem similar to Souplantation’s, the place diners start by creating a big salad with a wide selection of toppings earlier than coming into the principle eating corridor.
Patrons had been seen having fun with a wide range of all-you-can-eat soups, pasta, focaccia pizza, baked items, drinks, baked and candy potatoes, desserts and extra.
The seating gave the impression to be just like Souplantation with an open-concept eating room that includes a vibrant inside and loads of sales space and desk choices.
Souplantation, which was often known as Candy Tomatoes in different states, was based in San Diego in 1978.
Followers of the buffet chain had been heartbroken that guardian firm Backyard Contemporary Eating places introduced it might close all 97 restaurants, together with 44 in California, on Might 8, 2020.
The eating places’ closure was a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic after the Meals and Drug Administration had put out suggestions for discontinuing self-serve stations.
The transfer would show deadly, not solely to Souplantation, however throughout state borders to the iconic buffets of the Las Vegas strip.
“The laws are comprehensible, however sadly, it makes it very troublesome to reopen,” stated John Haywood, chief government of Backyard Contemporary, on the time.
In April 2020, the FDA stated retailers ought to “discontinue operations resembling salad bars, self-service buffets or beverage service stations that require prospects to make use of widespread utensils or dispensers” which marked the dying knell for Souplantation, Haywood stated.
The corporate started auctioning off restaurant objects on-line resembling tables, chairs, ovens, silverware, soda machines and even their well-known trays to be repurposed to be used in different venues.
Because the years glided by, followers had not given up hope that at some point their beloved Souplantation would reopen as soon as once more.
Then, a glimmer of hope got here on Feb. 26, 2024 when the corporate introduced it might be opening a new Sweet Tomatoes location in Tucson, Arizona and was trying to rent workforce members.
“We’re baaaaaack!” the company wrote on X, previously Twitter. “We missed everybody a lot! When you’re native to the Tucson space and wish to be a part of our workforce, click on the hyperlink in our bio to use!”
The new location is anticipated to open by the top of March 2024.
Within the meantime, family-owned ventures resembling Soup ‘n Contemporary in SoCal and Dollie’s Soup & Salad in Sandy, Utah are retaining the fandom alive for diners trying to recapture the expertise of their Souplantation days.
Soup ‘n Contemporary’s official opening date is slated for April 2. Within the meantime, the restaurant will stay open to diners because the house owners are wanting to obtain suggestions on the meals and total expertise.
One of many restaurant’s co-owners stated on social media that they’ve been busy with prospects since opening.
Soup ‘n Contemporary is positioned at 8966 Foothill Blvd. Rancho Cucamonga. It opens Sunday via Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to eight:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Costs are:
- Grownup lunch – $16.99
- Grownup dinner – $18.99
- Little one ages 4-8 – $8.99
- Little one ages 9-12 – $10.99
- Senior lunch – $14.99
- Senior dinner $16.99
- Drinks – $3.29
