Golden Corral coming to Cape; may hire 100 workers

After two Vantage Drive restaurants closed earlier this year, a new dining option is moving in. Soon, Cape Girardeau will have a Golden Corral.

The buffet-style restaurant will open in the old Ryan's building. Golden Corral developer Lisa Parker said the Ryan's building will be "reimaged" to follow the style of other Golden Corral locations.

According to the restaurant's website, there are nearly 500 Golden Corral restaurants across 40 states.

The Cape Girardeau Ryan's restaurant closed in March when its parent company, Buffets LLC, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Just weeks later, Bob Evans announced the closing of 21 underperforming stores, including the one next to Ryan's.

The new Golden Corral franchise unit will help fill the void left by those closings and will be positioned near the new Drury conference center and hotel, which is expected to be finished about May 2017.

The renovation work has not begun, and an opening date for the Cape Girardeau Golden Corral has not been determined.

"We just received approval seven days ago," Parker said, "so we haven't gotten any dates on architecture planning and building permits yet."

Though construction is not underway, the company has begun tackling the issue of staffing by advertising positions online.

"We always overstaff," Parker said. "After you actually open and people get a good understanding of their jobs, there's always falloff."

Parker said the company may hire up to 100 people before opening day.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

130 Vantage Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO