You currently cannot buy original Souplantation gift cards for active use at a broad chain of restaurants because the original company, Garden Fresh Restaurants, permanently closed all 97 locations and filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in 2020.

It’s a bittersweet comeback. We might not have a Souplantation on every corner anymore, but the few that remain (and the new ones coming) are keeping the dream of the perfect salad-to-muffin ratio alive. Sweet Tomatoes is not only back, it's growing

However, the brand is making a gradual, small-scale comeback:

The 2024 reopening in Tucson has proven that the hunger for this concept never died. Reviewers at Mashed note that the new location maintains the 4.5-star magic, keeping the iconic salad bar and fresh soups intact. While it's no longer a massive national chain, the quality remains high, proving that some things—like a bottomless bowl of broccoli salad—are truly timeless.

A new operating company, ST Three LLC , acquired the intellectual property and reopened a single Sweet Tomatoes in Tucson, Arizona in April 2024.

When the pandemic hit, the buffet model became a "no-go" zone. Watching the chain file for bankruptcy felt like losing a childhood friend. For years, the only way to get your fix was trying to recreate their Blueberry Muffins at home (and failing to get that specific, sugary top).

For decades, Souplantation mastered the art of the communal meal. From the crisp, chilled salad bar to the steaming pots of Big Kitchen Chili and that legendary Chicken Noodle Soup , it was healthy-ish comfort food at its peak. The atmosphere was always bright, family-friendly, and slightly chaotic in the best way possible.