State Investigating Hometown Buffet After Abrupt Closures

Hometown Buffet is the subject of a state investigation after six of its restaurants abruptly closed in San Diego, the state’s Labor Commissioner’s Office reported.

State investigators are looking into whether the restaurant chain violated a law requiring employees to be given notice before layoffs are issued.

The law requires that a business with 75 or more employees give workers a 60-day notice before any layoffs.

Many upset employees and customers complained on Hometown Buffet’s Facebook page saying the company had not sufficiently warned employees of the closures. They were referred by the company to their contact page.

The Santee, El Cajon, San Marcos, Oceanside and two San Diego locations were among the restaurants closed. The Chula Vista, National City and south San Diego restaurants are still open.

Hometown Buffet issued a statement last week that the six San Diego locations were closing after “ongoing assessments of individual restaurants.”

The statement said employees of closed restaurants would be able to apply for positions at operating stores.

Contact Us