Golden Corral says locations are closing. Here's what we know
Golden Corral says locations are closing. Here's what we know
Saleen Martin, USA TODAYWed, October 14, 2026 at 10:13 PM UTC
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Golden Corral has closed several locations over the past nine months, but the buffet chain says it's still growing.
The company confirmed to USA TODAY that six new restaurants are in development and that many shuttered locations could reopen under new franchise owners. Golden Corral, which is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, also said it expects to continue expanding into 2027.
Two locations are currently under construction in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Kissimmee, Florida. Four more are in the pre-construction phase in Baytown, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Spanish Fort, Alabama; and St. Petersburg, Florida.
The growth plans come as closures have been reported this year in Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Texas, according to local news reports, social media posts and Google listings.
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Here's what we know about the Golden Corral locations that have closed so far.
Where have locations closed? -
Canton, Ohio: Closed on Feb. 1 without specifying a reason after serving the community for over 20 years, according to the Canton Repository, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Alton, Illinois: Closed on April 30 because owners said “the location is no longer able to operate sustainably,” per the Belleville News-Democrat.
Davenport, Iowa: Closed on July 6 without noting a reason why, per the Moline Dispatch & Rock Island Argus.
Boynton Beach, Florida: Closed on July 26, citing the end of the restaurant’s lease and operational shifts, per the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Boise, Idaho: Closed in September without publicly citing reasons, according to the Idaho Statesman.
Brownsville, Texas: Closed on Sept. 14, reported MySanAntonio.com. Citing the franchise owner, the outlet said the location closed due to required renovations and rising costs, including rent.
Where does Golden Corral have locations?
Per the company’s restaurant locator, Texas has the largest number of Golden Corral locations (47), followed by Florida (31) and North Carolina (26).
Alabama – 7 locations
Alaska – 1 locations
Arizona – 7 locations
Arkansas – 4 locations
California – 17 locations
Colorado – 6 locations
Florida – 31 locations
Georgia – 18 locations
Idaho – 1 location
Illinois – 12 locations
Indiana – 12 locations
Iowa – 1 locations
Kansas – 4 locations
Kentucky – 9 locations
Louisiana – 9 locations
Maryland – 6 locations
Massachusetts – 1 location
Michigan – 5 locations
Minnesota – 1 location
Mississippi – 5 locations
Missouri – 9 locations
Nebraska – 2 locations
Nevada – 2 locations
New Hampshire – 1 location
New Mexico – 4 locations
New York – 4 locations
North Carolina – 26 locations
Ohio – 12 locations
Oklahoma – 8 locations
Pennsylvania – 6 locations
Puerto Rico – 4 locations
South Carolina – 9 locations
South Dakota – 1 location
Tennessee – 9 locations
Texas – 47 locations
Utah – 4 locations
Virginia – 14 locations
Washington – 3 locations
West Virginia – 2 locations
Wisconsin – 6 locations
Contributing: Emmy Bailey, Palm Beach Post
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golden Corral says locations are closing. Here's what we know
Source: “AOL Money”
