Anyone Else Miss the Endless Garden Bar at Ruby Tuesday?

I Miss That Salad Bar

I'm not the only one who misses Ruby Tuesday, am I?

In my opinion, RT's had the best, most bountiful salad bar in the Capital Region, and it usually cost less than $8 or $10.

Sometimes, I would add a protein, perhaps some boneless wings, hickory bourbon salmon, or one of their tasty triple prime burgers, but I was there for the star of the show: the all-you-can-eat Endless Garden Bar.

After a day of wandering through Crossgates Mall, trying on clothes at J Crew, or testing out neck pillows and foot massagers at Brookstone, I loved hitting up the Ruby Tuesday at the bottom of the escalator below the food court for a quick and healthy bite before I left.

So Many Things!

This salad bar had it all: fresh greens and lettuce, vegetables, fruits, toppings, and dressings, and I would load up. They always had the hard-to-find salad bar fixings, such as chickpeas, grape tomatoes, sunflower seeds, and even dried cranberries.

In addition to fresh ingredients, the salad bar often featured prepared salads, such as potato salad and pasta salad.

Why Did Most RT's Close?

Amid a significant decline, many Ruby Tuesday restaurants closed following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2020.

At its peak, around 15 years ago, Ruby Tuesday had approximately 945 locations in the United States. According to sources, by 2020, the number had decreased to 470.

Today, only around 200 remain, and there's only one in the immediate Capital Region, which is located on Route 30 in Amsterdam.

Analysts suggest the chain may be on the brink of permanent closure if it can't overcome its struggles with competition and changing consumer preferences.

The other day, I was inside Crossgates Mall and wandered over to the area that once housed Ruby Tuesday (closed in 2022) and The Standard restaurant (closed since January), which I also used to enjoy very much.

Both sit dark and vacant, but appear to be in top-notch condition, as if time stood still.

Long live the sneeze guard.