Souplantation is planning to return to California in 2027. SFGATE reported on October 6, 2026 that it confirmed the plan with sister brand Sweet Tomatoes. No city, site or opening date has been given yet.
What is confirmed and what isn’t
| Detail | Status as of October 7, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Return to California | Planned for 2027, per SFGATE, which confirmed it with Sweet Tomatoes |
| City or site | Not disclosed |
| Opening date | Not disclosed |
| Southern California | Not confirmed. SFGATE says this is an inference from the teaser video, not a company announcement |
| Menu or format changes | Not stated |
Sweet Tomatoes spokesperson Marlee Lossing told SFGATE by email that the exact location would be shared on social media “very soon.” “2027” is a plan, not an opening date. Treat it as one until the company names a site and a date.
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The teaser
On October 5, 2026, Sweet Tomatoes posted a teaser on Instagram. It showed a “Welcome to California” sign with the caption “Stay tuned…” The video didn’t identify a location. Any guess about where the restaurant will open goes beyond what the company has said.
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A San Diego original
Souplantation started in San Diego in 1978. The business grew to 97 locations. Outside the Souplantation region it operated as Sweet Tomatoes. SFGATE describes it as an all-you-can-eat buffet with fresh-made salads, pizza, soup and soft-serve ice cream.
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Bankruptcy and the 2020 shutdown
SFGATE reports that the parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016 and was sold to the private investment firm Perpetual Capital Partners. The remaining restaurants closed in 2020 during the pandemic. Perpetual chairman Robert Allbritton described the collapse to the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2020, as quoted by SFGATE:
“We spent two years researching and trying to improve things and actually got the business turned around. We were growing the number of guests and were in the process of renovating the restaurants with new fixtures, carpeting, signage as late as January. We felt great about it. But I’ve got to tell you, when the virus hit, we went from 100 percent to 70 to 30 to 10 percent that fast, before the restaurants closed down and the company ran out of money in one week.”
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The brand is already back elsewhere
Before this announcement, Sweet Tomatoes had resurfaced with locations in Tucson, Arizona, and Fort Myers, Florida, according to SFGATE. California would be a return to the brand’s home state.
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- The location reveal. The company says it will announce the site on social media. Its official Sweet Tomatoes channels are the place to confirm it.
- The opening date. Until one is announced, 2027 could still shift.
- Practical details. Once a site is named, the questions that matter are the city and neighborhood, parking and access, and whether the menu or buffet format has changed.
This story is still developing, and the location and timing are the facts most likely to change.
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- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
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- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
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