Super China Buffet Turns Into Jefferson Street Dump: Photos

JOLIET, IL — Super China Buffet, a long-time fixture at Joliet's 2138 West Jefferson Street, has turned into an abandoned restaurant and the property is turning into an eyesore, Joliet Patch discovered on Tuesday.

At this point, the city of Joliet building inspections department has taken no action against the owners of the building, who have chosen to let the former restaurant turn into a dump.

Windows are broken. Trash is littered throughout the property. Exterior parking lot lighting is smashed. It's even possible that homeless people are staying inside the property.

Joliet Patch discovered a boarded up exit door on the property that appeared to be propped open.

All the restaurant furnishings and equipment, including the tables and benches from the Super China Buffet, have been removed from inside dining room.

During COVID, Joliet Patch produced a restaurant feature story on Super China Buffet, in August 2020, letting readers know that the long-time Joliet restaurant was back in business after taking five months off amid the new coronavirus outbreak across Illinois.

Restaurant owner Steve Zheng told Patch in 2020 that Super China Buffet had been on West Jefferson Street, next door to Rax Roast Beef, since 1997. The buffet for Super China included American, Chinese and Mexican cuisine.

According to Google Reviews, Super China Buffet averaged 3.3 stars out of 5 stars.

Oddly enough, two people recently posted back to back 5-star reviews on Super China Buffet, one from three weeks ago and another in December, even though the place is not even open.

"I really miss this," one reviewer commented three weeks ago. "I don’t know what happened, but they were nice people the food was amazing here are some pictures that I took a few years ago."

The other person who posted a 5-star review in December wrote, "It looks abandoned. This was my favorite local Chinese restaurant! I had been coming to this buffet for years, actually a decade! I have hope they'll come back, but it doesn't seem likely, the places looks like its in bad condition and empty. This is my appreciation post, 5 stars for the years of serving your Joliet neighbors even through holidays and Christmas! They were a nice family run business."

Maybe we should have seen the demise of Super China Buffet coming. In the summer of 2022, Joliet Patch broke the news that the Super Buffet property was up for sale.

Related Patch stories:

Can Super China Buffet In Joliet Sell At This Price?

Super China Buffet Reopens After Long Pandemic Closure