Minnesota Now Home to Two Locations of America’s Worst Restaurant

While Minnesota is home to some incredible places, did you know our fair state is also home to two locations of the worst restaurant chain in the entire country?

Few businesses strike a chord with Minnesotans as much as restaurants do. We LOVE our eateries here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, right? And there are a lot of them to love, too. The National Restaurant Association estimates that there are currently over 11,100 restaurants in the North Star State, generating over $15 billion in sales every year.

However, difficult hours and high turnover rates mean it's often tough for restaurants here in Minnesota and across the country to attract and retain workers. And, since the pandemic introduced even more challenges, it's been common to see restaurant closings become a more common occurrence in the news.

ALSO INTERESTING: This Once-Popular Steakhouse Now Has No Locations Left in Minnesota

And for some restaurants that are still open, the news isn't always good. Like, for instance, the news that this business was just named the Worst Restaurant Chain in America, according to this MSN story.

Which chain is it? That would be Golden Corral, which despite its inclusion in this MSN story, still bills itself as 'America's #1 Buffet & Grill.' Golden Corral got its start back in 1971 when William F. Carl and James H. Maynard opened their first location in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where guests could enjoy a steak meal for just $1.89.

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The restaurant chain was very successful, and its number of locations increased to around 500 by the 1980s and remained that way well into the 2000s. However, like many others, it experienced challenges during the pandemic and closed over 20 percent of its locations. Today, there are only 397 Golden Corrals still open, including two here in the Bold North.

Here's how Golden Corral describes their restaurants today:

Golden Corral offers a legendary, endless buffet at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From our home-style menu favorites to signature sirloin steaks to seasonal promotion specials, there are always new menu items to explore. Lunch and dinner include our all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar, signature yeast rolls, and homemade desserts, along with soft-serve ice cream and our famous carrot cake.

However, according to MSN, the Golden Corral chain has a little work to do to live up to those standards, noting, "While the value and variety are good, most diners say that food is subpar. Other reviewers complain about the service and cleanliness of their local chains. Overall, Golden Corral has 2.8 stars on Yelp." MSN said.

READ MORE: Pharmacy Chain With Locations in Minnesota Is Closing Thousands of Stores

If you want to see for yourself, you have two Golden Corral locations to choose from here in the North Star State:

• Golden Corral - Maple Grove
  13603 Grove Drive,
  Maple Grove, MN 55311
• Golden Corral - Maplewood
  3000 White Bear Avenue #4,
  Maplewood, MN 551

Of course, Golden Corral isn't the only chain to face an uncertain economic future. Earlier this year, the popular Italian restaurant chain, Buca di Beppo also announced that it was filing for bankruptcy, as well. That announcement also came after the chain, which was founded right here in Minnesota also closed several locations across the country. TGI Fridays also closed several locations here and with sources say is likely to declare bankruptcy soon.

So while all of those restaurant chains still have locations in Minnesota, that's not the case for some restaurants that were also once popular. Keep scrolling to check out 50 beloved retail chains that weren't so successful and are now not around anymore.

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