Sweet Tomatoes, a San Diego-based chain of soup and salad bars, is permanently closing its 97 restaurants nationwide, including three in the East Valley, due to coronavirus.
New guidelines from the FDA are forcing restaurants to discontinue all forms of self-service, a mortal blow for salad bars and buffets.
‘‘The regulations are understandable, but unfortunately, it makes it very difficult to reopen,’’ Garden Fresh CEO John Haywood told the San Diego Union Tribune. ‘‘And I’m not sure the health departments are ever going to allow it.’’
Garden Fresh, Sweet Tomatoes’ parent company, operated its California locations under the brand Souplantation.
Sweet Tomatoes had East Valley locations in Ahwatukee, Gilbert, and Tempe.
