Most buffet style buffet's shut down because of waste. Where I live there also used to be a buffet that was like the place to be. It shut down because there was just to much food being wasted by the customers and profits also dropped.
I am guessing that this may have also been the problem with other buffet's all over the place. Now if you want to eat at a buffet in my area or with in a 45 minute drive from me you have a choice of Ponderosa and Chinese.
Those are all that is left around here. I prefer buffets because you can have a variety of foods with out a huge cost. I like salads and at a buffet I can create an amazing salad that practically anyone would enjoy.