An outdoor sign can be seen from the street for Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Construction of the new Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi at 7217 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights continues to move forward towards a planned summer opening with exterior physical improvements largely complete according to contractors spoken to at the job site, and new signage installed just late last week.

The 7,577 square-foot restaurant location faces Greenback Lane, in the same shopping center plaza as a Sam’s Club warehouse store, and it is not far from the U.S. Post Office and Citrus Heights City Hall.

The location was previously the home to Tokyo Buffet, which had been shuttered since a fire occurred at the site in 2019, which damaged the former restaurant’s heating, ventilation and cooling system.

 A worker places individual letters in the new sign for Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi.

Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi is an all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurant that offers Japanese and Chinese cuisine options for lunch or dinner. A second Yum Buffet and Grill is open at 4300 Florin Road in Sacramento.

Another all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurant that also offers similar Japanese and Chinese cuisine options, Hibachi Buffet Sushi and Grill, opened at 5623 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights in December 2023.

City Spokeswoman Marissa Brown said the permit filed by Jaing Xinying, property owner of Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi, with the city last August 8 included window replacement and new stucco finishes, along with interior improvements such as new appliances and equipment for cooking and buffet. “Some mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work were also approved for the site,” Brown said.

 A worker puts up a sign for Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi at 7217 Greenback Lane.

Xinying was unavailable for comment, but a restaurant manager at the Florin Road restaurant who was spoken to by telephone, said construction at the new Citrus Heights Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi is “on schedule” with a mid- or late- summer opening likely, once final required health and building inspections are completed.

“We’re excited to be opening in Citrus Heights soon,” he said.

Xinying retained VSAC Design of Sacramento to prepare project architectural designs, said Huan Vu, a principal engineer for the firm. His firm, VSAC Design, specializes in commercial façade improvements and new commercial construction.