New Indian fusion restaurant, banquet hall could replace shuttered Golden Corral in Elgin

A new Indian fusion restaurant and banquet hall could be coming to the space formerly occupied by Golden Corral on Randall Road in Elgin.

The Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission signed off this week on plans for the new Tulsi Indian Cuisine and Events at 601 S. Randall Road. The Elgin City Council still needs to give final approval.

The restaurant is on the north side of the shopping center that is anchored by Blain’s Farm and Fleet and also features a Planet Fitness, Dollar Tree retail store, a dentist’s office and a cosmetology school.

Property owner New Future LLC, which operated Golden Corral before it closed last fall, said the rebranded space would feature a full-service restaurant along with banquet facilities that could host up to 244 guests for corporate events, weddings or other celebrations.

The footprint of the building wouldn’t change, but the restaurant would get upgrades, including exterior changes like a more modern façade with new dormers and stucco.

“Our goal is to activate an underutilized establishment that contributes positively to the area while being a responsible neighbor,” company representative Silpa Yadla told the planning commission Monday.

The plan required zoning approval because the new configuration would require 197 parking spaces, while only 166 are on company property. New Future LLC has reached an agreement with the adjacent shopping center business owners to share spaces.

The banquet space would feature two rooms — one with a capacity of 200 people and another smaller room for up to 44 guests. The two rooms could be combined.

The restaurant would be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the events would be scheduled between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., with most events held on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Yadla said Golden Corral had been in business for 18 years, but never fully recovered following the pandemic.