Buffets, Inc. Commemorates Origins and Off-Spring in Metro-Wide Celebration March 20-22.

Lifestyle Editors/Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2004

For decades, Twin Cities metro-area families have considered Old Country Buffet their home away from home -- the place to enjoy a broad variety of high-quality homestyle food in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Locally-based and founded Buffets, Inc. will celebrate this all-family appeal March 20-22 with a series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the founding of its original Old Country Buffet restaurant in Richfield, and the unveiling of its newest evolution of the original concept, HomeTown Buffet, in Burnsville and Coon Rapids.

"This is an historic time for our company, employees and guests, and it deserves a real 'home town' celebration," said Kerry Kramp, chief executive officer of Buffets, Inc. "In the restaurant industry, it's rare to have successfully served the public for 20 years, and to have corporate headquarters located just minutes away from the original restaurant. The Twin Cities has always been home for our company.

"Our continued performance in serving more than 130 million guests each year in such a competitive environment is testament to the loyalty of our guests and the continued relevance of our small-batch cooking of homestyle favorites in a family friendly atmosphere," Kramp adds.

At the Old Country Buffet in Richfield, anniversary events Saturday through Monday, March 20-22, will recognize the restaurant's founding partners, employees and guests alike. A highlight of the three-day event will occur between 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday, March 22, at the Richfield Old Country Buffet where founders Roe Hatlen and C. Dennis Scott will be honored, along with those employees and guests whose tenure with the restaurant has spanned the entire 20 years. During all three days, festivities will include free balloons, face-painting, giveaways and visits from Old Country Buffet bumblebee-costumed mascot, O.C. Bee.

On March 22, all 11 Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet locations in the Twin Cities will serve an anniversary cake specially decorated to observe this historic anniversary.

Founded by Hatlen and Scott in 1983, Buffets, Inc. opened its original Old Country Buffet restaurant in the Richfield location in 1984. The restaurant was one of the first to offer high quality, made-from-scratch home style foods in a family friendly buffet format that provides unlimited portions of salads, soup, entrees, dessert and beverage for one low price.

Prepared with a "home cooking" philosophy, in an environment where diners are treated the way they would treat their guests at home, the restaurant soon became a favorite of Twin Cities residents, ultimately spawning a nation-wide system that today includes 376 restaurants in 38 states.

Over the years, Buffets, Inc. has continued to evolve its concept. The first innovation was the conversion to a "scatter bar" format that provides guests the freedom to select from a variety of food, beverage and dessert bars.

The company's latest evolution is the HomeTown Buffet, which recently opened in Burnsville and which will celebrate the grand opening of the newest HomeTown Buffet in Coon Rapids on Monday, March 25.

The two new HomeTown Buffet restaurants continue the tradition of serving homestyle favorites, but add features such as a more contemporary atmosphere and interactive "action station" showcasing carved meats and selected signature menu items. The restaurant's decor resembles a modern family room, with casual booth seating, brighter dining area and art custom selected to reflect Minnesota's hometown landscapes. New menu offerings such as Atlantic Salmon; Orange Chicken and Jasmine Rice; and carved Boneless Peppered Pork Loin are just a few of many guest favorites that have been added to the menu and are highlighted in the new food bar layout.

About Buffets, Inc.

Headquartered in Eagan, Minn., Buffets, Inc. is the nation's largest company-owned buffet chain and 13th-largest restaurant chain. The privately-held company operates 355 Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet restaurants while franchising an additional 21 throughout the U.S. Buffets, Inc. and its subsidiaries also operates eight Tahoe Joe's Steakhouse restaurants in California. For more information about Buffets, Inc., visit www.buffet.com.

Editors Please Note:

-- The Old Country Buffet 20th Anniversary festivities will take

place Saturday-Monday, March 20-22, at the Richfield

restaurant, located at Richfield Shoppes, 9 East and 66th

Street. Directions: I-35W, to Exit 66th St., East to Nicollet

Ave. Phone: [phone]

-- The Grand Opening of the HomeTown Buffet in Coon Rapids will

take place March 25. The restaurant is located in Riverdale

Village at 3580 Main Street, Coon Rapids, MN 55448.

-- The HomeTown Buffet in Burnsville is located at the

Cobblestone Court, 14150 Nicollet Avenue South. Directions:

I-35, Exit County Rd. 42 West, left on Nicollet Ave., one

block to Cobblestone Shopping Mall on the left. Exit 1 on

I-35W. Exit #88B on I-35E. Phone: [phone]