Young boy eating from buffet

Here's What Actually Happened To The Ponderosa Steakhouse Chain

NEWS

BY ANDREW AMELINCKX

Ponderosa Steakhouse sign on building
Once upon a time, Ponderosa Steakhouse was a powerhouse restaurant chain with nearly 700 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Today, there are only 15 left operating in the country.
Ponderosa Steakhouse buffet
The steakhouse, known for its extensive buffet, fell victim to changing consumer tastes, especially with younger diners, who prefer fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle.
Steak and potato on plate
Back in 2016, Bob Goldin, then vice chairman of Technomic Inc., said that buffet-style restaurants mainly appeal to older customers and that their model is out of touch.
Women entering Ponderosa Steakhouse with promotional text below
It also suffered from managerial changes, as Metromedia Restaurant Group bought Ponderosa in 1988 and went through a series of bankruptcies soon after.