Shoppers in Branson were met with a surprise this week when the local Walmart unveiled a full all you can eat buffet stretching from the deli into the produce section.
The buffet features trays of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and other hot bar staples, all served under a large overhead sign reading Walmart Buffet. Customers lined up with shopping carts to fill their plates, while others sat at cafeteria style tables set up inside the store to enjoy their meals.
The rollout has already drawn large crowds, with some customers saying they came to buy groceries but stayed to eat. “I’ve never seen anything like this in a Walmart,” one shopper said. “It’s like having a Golden Corral right next to the bananas.”
Store officials have not confirmed whether the Branson location is a test site for a wider program, but the concept has quickly become the talk of the town, with social media flooded with photos of locals eating fried chicken between the produce aisles.
If successful, the buffet could signal a new direction for Walmart stores nationwide, turning routine grocery runs into full dining experiences.