Hidden 'treasure': Sask. KFC buffet to stay open after residents rally online

Weyburn KFC buffet avoids chopping block Fast-food lovers have reason to cheer: one of the last remaining all-you-can-eat KFC buffets in Canada is staying open - for now.

Fast-food lovers who can’t get enough fried chicken have reason to cheer: one of the last remaining all-you-can-eat KFC buffets in Canada is staying open -- for now.

Weyburn, Sask. residents rallied on social media after news spread that the fast food chain was closing down the local restaurant’s buffet. KFC now says it will keep the buffet open, but has not confirmed for how long.

Larie Semen, the area manager for KFC franchises in Weyburn, told CTV’s News Channel that the “unique” buffet is one of only two in Canada. It opened in 1988 and “it’s been part of the community since.”

The other KFC buffet is located in Humboldt, Sask.

Semen said “it’s exciting” that people have rallied to keep the buffet.

“We have people from all over Saskatchewan, in fact all over Canada that when they come to Weyburn, the first thing they want to do is stop in and have our buffet,” Semen said.

Semen said the restaurant is scheduled to be remodelled and at first, the buffet was not expected to make it into the plan.

Now that it’s remaining open for the time being, Semen said they’re hoping that it will be included in any future upgrade.

Items available at the buffet include chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, fries, corn and a salad bar.

“It’s the variety that really, the people love,” Semen said, adding he’s hoping to add more items to it.

While not many people know that an all-you-can-eat KFC buffet even exists in Canada, those who do make the effort to get there.

Semen said residents from Moose Jaw and Regina would for hours “on a regular basis” come to grab some buffet eats.

Semen said the efforts to save the buffet, including a call-out on Twitter from none other than Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, has been overwhelming.

“Someone said, ‘It’s like a treasure hidden,’” and that’s what’s special about it,” Semen said.