Souplantation Reopens in Fountain Valley in 2027 After 7-Year Closure

Souplantation, the California-born salad and soup buffet chain, is returning to Orange County next year after nearly 7 years away. The chain closed all 97 locations in May 2020 when the pandemic devastated the all-you-can-eat buffet model. Now, under new ownership, it will reopen at its former Fountain Valley location at 11179 Talbert Ave., with all original recipes intact and updated decor.

How the chain collapsed and changed hands

Garden Fresh Restaurants, Souplantation’s parent company, hemorrhaged more than $1 million weekly during the 2020 closures and filed for Chapter 7 liquidation that year. ST Three LLC, led by Mike Malone (previously Garden Fresh’s vice president of operations), acquired the brands and reassembled much of the former corporate staff. The company already operates two locations: one in Tucson, Arizona (opened 2024) and one in Fort Myers, Florida. The Fountain Valley restaurant will be the third location overall and the first in California under the revived ownership.

What’s returning with the reopening

Marlee Lossing, director of corporate affairs for Sweet Tomatoes, confirmed that every original recipe will return unchanged, including Joan’s Broccoli Madness, Wonton Happiness Salad, Big Chunk Chicken Noodle Soup, macaroni and cheese, and blueberry muffins. The roughly 7,800-square-foot restaurant will feature the same self-serve buffet concept with salad, soup, bread, pizza, and soft drink stations. The restaurant will receive updated decor while keeping the core concept intact. The company confirmed there are no plans to franchise; all locations are company-owned.

Why buffets face a lingering trust problem

The self-serve buffet model relies on dozens of strangers reaching into the same bins with shared tongs and scooping from open trays for hours. This hand-to-surface contact is precisely what health officials warned against during 2020 and 2021. While enough time has passed that an operator is betting public discomfort has faded, the underlying physics of open buffet lines remain unchanged. A health scare can resurface instantly with the next norovirus outbreak or flu season, and self-serve food bars are always blamed first.

Future expansion remains uncertain

Lossing told the Los Angeles Times that the Fountain Valley opening could be the first of several new or returning California locations, with all markets under consideration for future expansion. However, only one of the original 97 locations is confirmed to reopen. The company has been selective about site selection, and Lossing stated that all the pieces came together perfectly for the Fountain Valley location. No exact opening date in 2027 has been announced.

Final Thoughts

Souplantation’s return tests whether consumers have moved past pandemic-era concerns about buffet dining. With only one California location confirmed and no franchise plans, the chain’s comeback hinges on whether nostalgia and unchanged recipes can overcome lingering health hesitations.

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