Is a popular chain making an unexpected return to Buffalo, New York?

With the recent announcement that several popular national chains are filing for bankruptcy and closing hundreds of locations across the country, it’s shocking to learn that a major brand is actually looking to open more stain; specifically, right here in Western New York.

Walgreens, Rite Aid, Red Lobster, TGI Fridays…we could unfortunately go on and on. Branded retail stores and restaurants that have been in Buffalo for years have made headlines for being in financial trouble and suddenly closing their doors.

However, a major restaurant chain views the closure of our Western New York Red Lobster locations as an opportunity to re-enter the Buffalo, New York market.

LEARN MORE: A popular restaurant chain has closed these locations in New York

Remember the Golden Corral in Western New York?

The popular buffet chain Golden Corral hasn’t had a location in the West New York area since 2020, when their last restaurant on Transit Road in East Amherst closed permanently (it’s now Santora’s Pizza Pub & Grill).

Known for its wide variety of dishes at reasonable prices, Golden Corral has been a huge hit with families looking to spend more money while still enjoying a restaurant meal. Now, the closest Golden Corral locations are over an hour away from Buffalo in Rochester, New York and Erie, Pennsylvania.

Golden Corral could return to Buffalo

Golden Corral Development Director Dave Conklin said Buffalo Business First that the company sees the recently empty Red Lobster locations in Western New York as an opportunity to return to the region.

“We would love to look at some of them for conversion into the Golden Corral.”

He later said the first step is finding the right franchisee to take it on, but once that’s done, he’s confident they’ll be able to quickly find a location (or maybe several) and opening here in Buffalo, especially with all the space available following recent restaurant closures.

This would certainly be a good thing for all the service industry workers who have lost their jobs due to the closure of restaurants like Red Lobster. Would you be excited to see Golden Corral make a return to Western New York?