Golden Corral reopening

PERKINS TWP. — The new owners of a popular buffet hope to corral returning customers when it reopens. The Golden Corral, across from Mad River Harley-Davidson on Milan Road (U.S. 250), will reopen Friday after months of leaving its doors shut during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We're here to give you some great food, hospitality and a place where you can feel safe and a part of a family," said Eunice Plaza, a spokeswoman for new franchise owners Vital Partners. Vital Partners took the location over from the original franchise owner, who opened the buffet restaurant in 2019. The company, owned by Jace Stickdorn and Annette Payne, operates several other Golden Corrals, including in Dayton, Ohio. "Jace is a native Ohioan, so he knows the area very well," Plaza said. "When they found out this location was available, they wanted it because they knew it was a beloved restaurant with great demand." The owners brought Roy Clark on to manage the new location. Clark has seven years of experience overseeing successful Golden Corrals in West Virginia. "He's great at his job, and he moved here because he wants this location to be a success," Plaza said. They also brought kitchen manager Eric Morrison and hospitality manager Amy Buhrer to the restaurant. Several of the employees under the previous franchise owner will return. When the restaurant reopens Friday, it will use Golden Corral's new cafeteria-style where employees with gloves and masks serve food to guests to reduce the likelihood of contamination and spread of COVID-19. "We're opening with the highest level of sanitization," Plaza said. "We understand the world that we are in right now, and we want to create a safe environment for our employees and guests." The restaurant will also offer curbside pickup for people who want buffet style food but don't feel comfortable eating inside restaurants yet. Plaza said the reception they received on social networking sites had increased their excitement to reopen the Sandusky restaurant. "This area is fantastic, especially with all the activities in the summer, and we're looking forward to serving the community," Plaza said.