Buffets were closed around the US, effectively shutting the chain down.
The chain created "virtual drive-thrus" to restart business.
Golden Corral made an unorthodox move for a buffet chain and added drive-thrus at some locations during the pandemic, but the drive-thrus are very different from the industry standard, CEO Lance Trenary told Insider.
In 2020, buffets were "virtually outlawed overnight," Trenary said, and none of Golden Corral's nearly 500 locations were allowed to open dining rooms in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. With off-premise sales making up less than 3% of business, the chain had to make updates, fast. To do that, Golden Corral looked at restaurants with multiple access points — curbside, drive-thru, and delivery were all alternative ways customers could buy food without dining inside.