Bud’s Buffet closing in Sacramento after 30-plus years of feeding state workers

If the state employees working from home ever come back to their offices, they’ll find downtown Sacramento’s lunch scene missing a staple.

Bud’s Buffet will close Friday after nearly 33 years at 1016 10th St., a restaurant representative confirmed Wednesday night. The Ziyadeh family, who has owned Bud’s since it opened in 1988, hopes to eventually launch a second iteration whenever the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

Though its name might have misled a first-time customer or two, those who knew Bud’s knew it for its sandwiches. Piled high with sheets of pastrami, turkey, baked ham or some other meat prepared in-house daily, they helped Bud’s carve out a role as a no-frills downtown institution among tenured state employees.

“This was our last decision to go to! But with everything going on since covid started the situation (has) been tough for us!” Bud’s wrote in a Facebook message to The Sacramento Bee. “We don’t want to do it but the debt is getting bigger because of covid and we are forced to shut down at this level! I know it’s such a loss and it’s heartbreaking for us!”

Lines were long during the Thursday lunch hour after the announcement as fans and well-wishers, including Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, made final visits.

“This in many ways is sad because this is the impact of this terrible virus that everybody has lived through, but on the other hand it’s also a bit of a celebration,” Steinberg said. “Look at the numbers of people who are here, and who were here yesterday, and who will be here tomorrow. Bud’s is a legend of 33 years.”

Bud’s Buffet joins a growing list of restaurants near the Capitol that have shut down over the last few months, including Ambrosia Cafe, El Santo Cantina & Ultralounge, Ma Jong’s Asian Diner and Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery. Oblivion Comics & Coffee became the latest casualty Tuesday night.

A GoFundMe page was established Wednesday night to help Bud’s pay back its outstanding rent and utility bills. The restaurant will be open for takeout from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 7:31 AM.