The pandemic sadly saw many restaurants forced to shutter for good, count popular buffet, Souplantation, as one of them. Parent company Garden Fresh Restaurants shuttered all locations back in 2020, at the time citing the uncertainty for buffet format restaurants during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But according to a recent Instagram account going by @souplantation.sd, the beloved buffet looks to be making a comeback in La Mesa, California this summer, with a July 4 date pegged as the opening day.

An article published by sandiegoville.com in February 2022 noted that "La Mesa resident Dmitry Braverman has leased the former Souplantation location on Fletcher Parkway and aims to revive the concept using previously-released and copycat recipes."

Fans in the comments section of the @souplantation.sd account have been vocal about their excitement as they anticipate the grand opening, though some skeptics are more doubtful, wondering how this all plays out without Garden Fresh Restaurants in the mix. Is this a knock off? Will it be as if the original Souplantation had never left with this La Mesa location opening? All valid questions which are sure to be answered come July 4.