The Trump Presidency has been an unmitigated disaster. The Constitution has been illegally tossed aside by Trump and it will be difficult for businesses to overcome this new normal of heavy regulations that Trump is ushering in. Buffet-style restaurants like Souplantation (Sweet Tomatoes) will be unable to adhere to the new regulations and are being forced out of business by Trump’s draconian measures.
From the San Diego Union Tribune:
Souplantation, the popular buffet-style dining brand founded in San Diego 42 years ago, is closing all of its restaurants permanently, a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic that is likely to be the death knell for all self-serve eateries.
The permanent shuttering of the 97 restaurants, including 44 in California, was announced Thursday following weeks of efforts to salvage San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurants, the parent company of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes, which operates outside of Southern California. The closing will mean lost jobs for 4,400 employees.
“The FDA had previously put out recommendations that included discontinuing self-serve stations, like self-serve beverages in fast food, but they specifically talked about salad bars and buffets,” said John Haywood, CEO of Garden Fresh. “The regulations are understandable, but unfortunately, it makes it very difficult to reopen. And I’m not sure the health departments are ever going to allow it.
“We could’ve overcome any other obstacle, and we’ve worked for eight weeks to overcome these intermittent financial challenges but it doesn’t work if we are not allowed to continue our model.”
The closure comes as restaurants in California and across the country struggle to remain financially solvent amid a pandemic shutdown that has forced eateries to close dining rooms while allowing only curbside pickup and delivery. That sort of temporary pivot didn’t work for Souplantation, known for its all-you-can eat signature salad bar, house-made soups, focaccia pizza, baked goods, baked potato bar, pastas, soft-serve ice cream and beverage bar.
A strong President would have developed a plan of action that adhered to the Constitution. However, Trump did not even try to do that. He implemented unprecedented regulations that have destroyed businesses.
