Tin Tin Buffet to close this week, reopening date is uncertain

BIDDEFORD — Tin Tin Buffet is closing Friday, and though the future of the restaurant is uncertain, the owner is hopeful she can reopen in the spring.

The Tin Tin Buffet is a Chinese buffet restaurant that has been open for many years at the Five Points Shopping Plaza at 420 Alfred St.

The restaurant restructured their business model during the COVID-19 pandemic, first offering take-out, and then offering sit-down service with all-you-can-eat food for one price, with staff serving the food instead of customers serving themselves at a buffet spread.

Owner Jing Ou said in an email that business has been too slow for the money made from sales to cover expenses. She said she felt sad about having to close the restaurant, but right now keeping it open cost more than keeping it closed.

Ou said she is hoping that the Coronavirus pandemic will be over in time to reopen the restaurant in the spring. The longer the pandemic lasts, the more rent money she will have the restaurant is closed, and the less likely she will be able to reopen, she said.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at [email protected].