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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Golden Corral might be the most popular restaurant in Vernal. When I was there for lunch and a visit with owner Steve Jones, the place was packed and when I returned for dinner the next evening, the line was outside the door.
This Golden Corral is different than the ones I'm accustomed to. Steve explained that it is classified as a "Hometown Market Store," and that means it is a smaller store located in a smaller market. Golden Corral has very few such stores left in the country. There are more than 400 Golden Corrals in the United States and only 16 outlets are Hometown Market facilities. The Vernal store is the only such Golden Corral in Utah.
It may be smaller than most but the food is terrific, the service efficient and the ambiance most appealing. Also, it seems that Steve was greeting most customers by name.
I really enjoyed my lunch and dinner. I had my choice of 40 hot items and 70 cold offerings. The food rotates every day. I was very impressed with the soup and salad bars, and in the evening there is a carving station with steaks and roasts. The homemade dinner rolls and the desserts are excellent! The food was hot, delicious and displayed in a most appealing way.
Seven members of the Jones family are involved with the restaurant and at least one is always on duty. During my visit several family members came by to greet me and check on the food and the service.
It wasn't many years ago that the business was very seasonal. Tourists kept the restaurant busy in the summer months, but it was slow during the winter. Steve says that isn't the case anymore. With the booming economy and the many gas and oil field workers, Golden Corral stays busy all year long, seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
