Souplantation plans to return to its former Fountain Valley, California, location in 2027, according to a company statement reported by NBC 7 San Diego. The restaurant is at 11179 Talbert Avenue in Orange County.
“Souplantation will be making its return to Fountain Valley, CA in 2027,” director of corporate affairs Marlee Lossing told NBC 7 in a statement. An exact opening date has not been announced, the outlet reported.
That is a plan for one location, not a reopening of the former restaurant network across California.
Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes
The comeback involves the names Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes. Restaurant Dive describes the planned California restaurant under the Sweet Tomatoes sister brand, while NBC 7 uses Souplantation in its reporting and quotes the company’s statement using that name.
Both reports identify Fountain Valley. The cited company statement confirms the planned return there; it does not settle the restaurant’s final signage.
Lossing told Restaurant Dive that California had long been on the company’s radar and that it had been selective about locations. The former Fountain Valley site became available and the company determined it was suitable, according to the report.
What is operating now?
NBC 7 reports that Fountain Valley would be the third operating Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes restaurant in the country, joining locations in Arizona and Florida, according to Lossing.
The Sweet Tomatoes website as of October 9, 2026, describes two locations. Its FAQ identifies Tucson and Fort Myers in its description of to-go offerings. The planned California restaurant is not being presented here as open today.
A familiar format under different ownership
Lossing told NBC 7 that the plan is to preserve the original all-you-can-eat experience, including the salad bar, soups, breads and desserts. Those are the company’s stated plans, not a menu this publication has inspected at the future location.
The earlier Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes network closed in 2020. Restaurant Dive reports that its former owner, Garden Fresh Restaurants, filed for Chapter 7 liquidation that year.
Restaurant Dive points to Sweet Tomatoes’ gift-card FAQ as evidence that the current business is not associated with the prior ownership. The FAQ itself says previously purchased gift cards from before 2024 belong to the prior ownership group and that the current business cannot redeem, refund or replace those old materials.
Are more California restaurants coming?
The company did not announce more restaurants in the statement reported by NBC 7.
“We are excited about our return to Fountain Valley, CA and do not have more restaurants to announce at this time,” Lossing said. The same statement said the company was exploring different markets and wanted to open more restaurants when it could find suitable locations.
The operator’s FAQ also says all markets are being considered for future expansion. That is a statement of interest, not a list of approved sites or opening dates.
For now, the confirmed plan in the cited reporting is a Fountain Valley return in 2027. No additional California location or exact opening date should be inferred from it.
Frequently asked questions
When is Souplantation returning to Fountain Valley?
In 2027, according to a company statement reported by NBC 7. The outlet reports that an exact opening date has not been announced.
Where is the planned restaurant?
At the former Fountain Valley location, 11179 Talbert Avenue, according to NBC 7.
Is this a nationwide reopening?
No nationwide reopening is announced in the cited company statement. The company said it had no more restaurants to announce at that time.
Can old gift cards be redeemed?
Sweet Tomatoes’ FAQ says gift cards purchased before 2024 belong to the prior ownership group and cannot be redeemed, refunded or replaced by the current business.
Source note: NBC 7 says its article was converted from a broadcast report with AI tools and edited by a journalist.
