GREAT FALLS — The Golden Corral restaurant in Great Falls closed its doors permanently on Monday after more than 19 years. The buffet-style restaurant was located in the Great Falls Marketplace on the southwest side of town.
A sign on the door addressed to "Valued Guests" says: "We are deeply saddened to say that we are permanently closing as of 8/24/2020. Thank you so much for your patronage through our 19 years here. We were truly blessed to serve you."
No explanation for the closure was given, although a man at the restaurant who identified himself as a newly-hired manager confirmed that the COVID-19 situation was a factor.
Golden Corral was well-known in the community for serving free meals to veterans every November on Veterans Day. The restaurant also got an on-air shout-out from talk show host (and part-time Teton County resident) David Letterman on "The Late Show" after the building was damaged in a fire several years ago.
When we reported on the closure on Monday, the KRTV Facebook page received hundreds of comments and reactions - here's a sample:
- Ashlee Darnell: The best restaurant in town 😭 the only place I could go and get everything I wanted and more, not to mention no dirty looks when my kids would be fussy.
- Carla Navratil: We live in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and I have been going to Great Falls since I was a kid, so many wonderful memories. So many places have closed and this just breaks my heart.
- Chris Priest: Dagnabit!!! Only place in this state i could some times get fried okra!
- Wayne Ace: I loved to take my mom there when I would go back to Montana, very sad day!
- Shannon Johnson: I need that mac n cheese
- John Byk: been there once. average food at best.
- Colette Tihista-Longin: I’m so sorry for this amazing family who has done so much good in our community. Sad day.
- Jim Coolidge: Oh no. That was my place to go anytime I was in Great Falls. They not only had outstanding food but they had outstanding employees. Virtually everytime we ate there the same waitress took care of us. We had more fun talking and joking with her over the years. My trips to Great Falls won't be same and I thank them for making them pleasent.
- Cortney Bartlett: It's no fun anymore because they had to serve you. It was no longer a buffet because of the pandemic of course. When we would go up to get more food, the staff would try to hide. I stopped going.
The Golden Corral corporate website as of Thursday reflects the closure.
