Beloved restaurant chain that shut ALL stores four years ago comes back from the dead

Diners have been lining up around the block to celebrate the unexpected return of a much-loved southern restaurant chain that was left for dead by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 of its salad restaurants in May 2020 as the pandemic and lockdown rules ripped their way through the industry.

It was an outcome which continues to be felt with more than a dozen of America's best-known names including Applebee's, Red Lobster and Denny's shutting shop branches in 2024.

But fans have been driving from across the country after Sweet Tomatoes reopened an outlet on its former site in Tucson, Arizona, with dozens of diners sharing their excitement with millions of viewers on social media.

'We're so back,' said one patron who drove seven hours from LA. 'They keep wanting to tell us that we're not the first ones to do this.'

The restaurant chain, loved by foodies for its all-you-can-eat buffets, operated on the site for 24 years before filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

It made its name with its salads but proved popular with families because its vast array of buffet food provided something for even the fussiest child.

The brand was bought by Sahara Capital Partners months later for $775,000 but the current COO Mike Malone said it was former customers who were 'raving fans' who drove its comeback.

'We'll bring all the favorites back. We want to open with what people are used to,' he told Restaurant Business Magazine.

'We're thrilled to return,' he added.

He said plans were afoot to expand to other venues along with a new delivery service.

And the return cannot come soon enough according to fans jealous of the Arizonan diners.

'Omg please come back to South Florida too,' wrote one. 'My fav place!'

'Nobody knows what place I'm talking about when I say this restaurant!' added another. 'One of my ultimate favorite ones ever, I'm so mad they closed down my location.'

'I could CRY, added a third. 'I hope they open near me again! It was my grandpa's favorite.'

'Literally contemplating taking a flight.' wrote another.

Red Lobster abruptly closed 93 of its 700-odd restaurants on May 13, days before for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Court documents suggest there are another 135 restaurants that bosses say will keep losing money if leases stay as they are.

Rubio's Coastal Grill shut 48 of its Mexican-style restaurants in California at the end of May blaming 'the rising cost of doing business in the state'.

Applebee's closed 46 outlets last year and has announced plans for at least 25 more this year.

And Denny's expects to follow up the closure of 57 restaurants with up to 20 more this year.

But Sweet Tomato's announcement of their return on Instagram sparked another round of excitement among devotees.

'Okay, seriously, what's holding you guys back from opening back up in San Diego, California?' demanded Maya Chaoui. 'Is it money? It's money, right? I'll give you money lol.'

'I'm not saying you shouldn't open restaurants in Florida, where I lived before here, and visit a lot,' wrote Edna Reyes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

'Or in Georgia, where I had no choice to go. I'm just asking that you also make one here. Thank you.'

'One of my favorite hobbies is reading all the desperate comments begging for a location in their area,' wrote regieredreader.

'My other favorite hobby is being one of those comments: Oregon loves and misses you!'

There may be more good news for food fans with reports that Steak and Ale plans to open a branch in Minnesota this summer for the first time since the chain went bankrupt in 2008.