Furr's Switches to Buffet Service

by Hanna Raskin, Posted Nov 20th 2009 @ 3:00PM

One of the last surviving chains from the golden age of Southern cafeterias is abandoning the classic cafeteria model for buffet-style service.

"It's a completely different experience from what folks have been accustomed to," Furr's Jill Gouge Laird says of the restaurant's new Fresh Buffet concept. "Now they really control the experience."

As recently reported by the Dallas Morning News, the Texas-based chain has opened nine Fresh Buffets over the last five years, and plans to open as many as a dozen additional stores by 2012. Existing restaurants will continue to operate as cafeterias, but Laird confirms all future outlets will be structured as "scattered buffets."

The first Furr's opened in Hobbs, N.M., in 1946, when the region was agog over the model that food historian John Mariani has described as striking "just the right balance of formality and traditionalism." Cafeterias translated the family dinner to a public setting, with hair-netted near-grannies serving up fried chicken, collards, mashed potatoes and liver. They flourished in the South, where Furr's' preeminence was challenged by S&S, K&W, S&W, Luby's, Piccadilly, Morrison's and Britling's -- and those were just the major players.

Kmart purchased Furr's Cafeteria in the 1980s.

"They had very aggressive expansion plans," Laird recalls.

At its peak, Furr's had 170 locations nationwide. Today, the tally's dwindled to just 50.

Laird says the restaurant hopes to reclaim its relevance by switching to buffets.

While a nation of flu-phobes might seem prone to prefer cafeterias, where the food sits safely behind glass, Laird says customers like the convenience of buffets. Furr's Fresh Buffet guests don't have to wait in line or commit themselves to a full portion of any one item.

"We've had very positive comments from guests who've dined with us for decades," Laird says. "They like to taste a lot of different items and control the amount of food."

Furr's will continue to serve time-tested favorites like Millionaire's Pie, an uncooked concoction of pineapples and whipped cream, alongside new grilled dishes like citrus-fired chicken.

"We are just really excited about our plans to give life to this chain," Laird says.

Tags: buffet, cafeteria, furrs, furrs fresh buffet, FurrsFreshBuffet, new mexico, NewMexico, southern states

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Reader comments (Page 2 of 2)

11-21-2009 @7:55AM dallasdiamonds2 said... Cletis, your comment is such a load of crap, not everyone who is overweight is that way because of over indulging in food, and there are overweight people everywhere in the world. americans have the best variety etc...If you feel the need to bitch, do it about something that is important
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11-30-2009 @1:05AM Basil Killah said... Count me in the Vegas Furr's fans! My dad and I used to enjoy a Sunday brunch every week when I was little --learned me to like fried okra and country fried steak with the mostly white-haired crowd while I grilled him on every topic under the sun. I won't mind it it comes back in buffet form , after all it is our civic mode of eatin'. This time brunch will be on me :)

=)
-smk/basil killah
basilkiller.tumblr.com
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12-09-2009 @8:15PM George said... I eat too much when I go to Furr's. When I get "All I Can Eat," I eat "All I Can Get." Everything they have is good. The Furr's nearest my home has a take-out plate. It's only $3.99 per pound. I like to get a plate and bring it home. That way I'm not tempted to eat too much.
There is a "traditional" Furr's cafeteria nearby also. I used to prefer it because the prices are slightly lower. I like the old way of going down the line once and getting what I want. That also helps to avoid overeating. They still offer "all you can eat" and you can go back for more. But the food quality and selection are better at the new Furr's. However, they have done away with trays, and that means you have to make multiple trips to get the salad, the soup, the entree, and the dessert. I guess you win some and you lose some.
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1-07-2011 @5:52PM VKathryn Flemming said... If you eat too much, it is not the fault of the buffet, it is your lack of restraint... you can eat too much at any restaurant for that matter, all you have to do it pay for it.
I personally love Furr's because the food is fresh, the selection is great and I have seen some unsavory staff at cafeterias in the area....
Just yesterday, a guy behind the counter at burger king was pulling the female employee's hair and serving the counter in between annoying her.
All the staff at Furr's is busy and attentive to the guests and professional as well.
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