If you were looking forward to the day during which you can patronize one of the 97 restaurants under the Sweet Tomatoes or Souplantation brand names, that day apparently will never arrive, as the chain of dining establishments has permanently closed due to the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic after being in business for approximately 42 years.
Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation Restaurants Closed Permanently Because of 2019 Novel Coronavirus
This announcement appeared at the official Internet web site of the company:
To our valued guests,
As you may have heard, we are unable to re-open our 97 Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The outpouring of love on social media has been overwhelmintg and we are so grateful to all of the sweet memories you have shared with us. We would like to thank our 4,400 team members for their dedication and love they have shown to our local communities. We will miss you tremendously and wish you all the best.
For gift card inquiries, refund options are limited at this time. You may be able to dispute the purchase with your bank or credit card company. Otherwise, there may be an alternative option available through the court in the future.
We will miss you. pic.twitter.com/75mS8GeQso
— Souplantation (@souplantation) May 8, 2020
The permanent closure of Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation — which offered fresh salads, fruits, vegetables, soups, pasta dishes, and baked goods via a salad bar and buffet from which customers may serve themselves as much food as they liked — is an example of one of the 8 reasons why you should be careful about buying gift cards right now.
Summary
Because of the nature of food presented buffet style — which is considered to be conducive to spreading the 2019 Novel Coronavirus because patrons handle everything when serving themselves — dining establishments have had to either re-invent the concept of all you can eat by having waitstaff provide the food; or they simply either eliminated that option or closed their dining establishments entirely.
I have dined at Sweet Tomatoes restaurants on occasion, as I liked their food and salad bar concept. I will miss having this dining option available in the future. One was even able to sign up for the Club Veg membership program to receive weekly e-mail messages with discount coupons for a more affordable experience.
The closure of buffet and salad bar restaurants such as Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation causes me to wonder how complimentary breakfast will be handled at hotel and resort properties where guests serve themselves.
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
