- Golden Corral, America’s largest buffet chain, has shut down at least six restaurant locations across Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, and Idaho in 2026 due to rising operational costs, lease expirations, and renovation requirements.
- Representatives for the Raleigh, North Carolina-headquartered corporation noted that while closures were higher than normal this year, decisions depend on individual franchise owners, who run 99 percent of the chain's approximately 330 locations.
- Specific economic pressures were highlighted by a Brownsville, Texas, franchise owner who reported that a proposed monthly rent hike from $17,500 to $31,000 made continuing operations unviable.
- Despite the shutdowns, the chain is pushing forward with expansion plans, featuring six new locations in development.
- Golden Corral currently maintains 328 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico—with Texas leading at 47 locations—and projects continued overall network growth into 2027.
IN FULL
.png?width=1200&auto=webp&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
