West Michigan’s last golden corral is closing in Walker

WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) – After 12 years in business, West Michigan’s last Golden Corral Buffet & Grill has served its final meal.

The Walker restaurant is permanently closed on Monday. City planning commission records show that the building at Alpine Ave. NW 3461 being demolished for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant.

The new 5,000-square-foot restaurant will include an alfresco terrace with seating for 28 guests and an indoor dining area. During the site review in July, the Planning Commission was satisfied that the proposed restaurant site layout and dual entrance/exit traffic lights can handle the traffic that the new Chik-Fil-A is likely to bring.

A Chick-fil-A spokesman told the city commissioner in July that Chick-fil-A locations in Michigan have an average of about 35 cars queued at a time at peak times. At Walker, the two-lane drive-thru can handle twice as much, she said.

It’s unclear when crews will begin demolition and construction.

West Michigan’s only other Golden Corral location in Muskegon was previously closed. It’s unclear if the restaurant chain has plans to return to West Michigan. Golden Corral fans now have to travel at least 115 miles to get their fix: The closest location currently in operation is in Mishawaka, Indiana, the company’s website shows.