ONTARIO ─ Customers lined up at Golden Corral’s door even before it re-opened Thursday at 11 a.m.
“It’s probably one of my favorite buffets to go to. Good selections of food,” James Blankenship said of the eatery, which has been closed at times during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Willard resident and his wife happened to drive by the restaurant and decided to have lunch there. They were the first customers of the reopening.
Renee Sears owns the Golden Corral in Ontario with her husband, John. The couple bought the restaurant in June 2019. She said they were very excited to be back.
The restaurant had closed when the pandemic hit Ohio in the spring of 2020. It re-opened in May, but had to close again after Thanksgiving due to the growth of COVID-19 cases and a decline in sales.
Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the restaurant’s re-opening on Thursday. Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson, who joined the ceremony, said the community has asked him when the restaurant would open its doors again.
Sears said customers can get one free child meal for every adult meal they purchase until April 1. The child meal is designed for children ages 12 and under.
Ohio Health Department allowed buffets to reopen in mid-February with multiple safety guidelines, including keeping the customer flow at the buffet tables moving in one direction.
Sears said customers have to wear masks throughout the restaurant, except when they are eating. The line at the bar will be one way in and one way out, making sure people would not crowd in together. Workers will serve food to those who can’t wear masks because of medical issues.
Golden Corral will offer all its favorite items, including the steakburgers for lunch and the signature sirloin steaks for dinner.
The beloved chocolate fountain will not be running due to the pandemic, Sears said. But the same desserts will be served in a different way. People can also use the sanitation stations and gloves provided by the restaurant when needed.
Sears said the pandemic has taken a toll on everyone and hit the restaurant industry especially hard. She lost some employees because they had found other jobs. She said she hopes customers will come out and visit the restaurant.
“Hopefully, it’s gonna take off,” she said of the business.
Golden Corral is located at 575 North Lexington-Springmill Road in Ontario. Its opening hours are as follows:
Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Is this near Vaughan Ontario
Unfortunatly, this is a US restaurant chain. This location is located in Ontario, Ohio. If you do go to the US and they have a Golden Corral near by, I do recommend it.