Buffet launch aims to keep Summer Snow Café afloat amid economic slump

After briefly considering selling the business as the local economy slowed, the operators of Summer Snow Café & Kids in Susupe have instead decided to try a different approach—a daily weekday lunch buffet aimed at drawing more customers through affordable dining and family-friendly offerings.

Sangmi Lim, manager of Summer Snow Café & Kids, said the decision came after months of struggling with declining business and the broader economic downturn affecting the Commonwealth.

“As everyone knows, the ongoing economic downturn has made it difficult to operate our store. We even considered closing the business, but thinking of the many loyal customers and children who love Summer Snow, we could not make that decision easily,” Lim said.

Lim said the café also reassessed its existing menu and prices and concluded that a buffet offering might better compete with other restaurants while giving customers more value.

“I believe that everyone is enduring difficult times. We also felt that our existing menu and pricing were no longer competitive. Therefore, we thought it would be a good idea to open a buffet where customers can enjoy a variety of dishes at an affordable price and eat to their satisfaction,” Lim said.

The weekday buffet will run Monday to Friday from 11am to 2pm, while the café’s regular menu will remain available during weekday evenings and on weekends.

According to Lim, the buffet will include standard items such as steamed rice, kimchi, salad, fruit, soup, and iced tea, along with five rotating main dishes. The menu will change daily and may feature dishes such as fried rice, spaghetti, cutlets, spicy stir-fried pork (jeyuk bokkeum), bulgogi, japchae, tteokbokki, chicken nuggets, and French fries.

Some of the café’s existing menu items as well as Korean dishes will also appear on rotation.

Because Summer Snow operates as a kids’ café, buffet customers will also receive two hours of access to the indoor playground, allowing families to dine while their children play.

“With a buffet menu that changes daily, every visit will offer a fresh and new lunch experience,” Lim said.

Lim added that the café’s challenges reflect the broader economic strain facing many residents, particularly those working in tourism-related industries.

“Due to the nature of a tourism-based area, we cannot help but worry about the suspension or reduction of flights. In fact, many of our customers work in industries closely related to tourism, such as hotels and restaurants. I understand that a significant number of them have already experienced reduced working hours or job losses,” Lim said.

Lim expressed hope that tourism will rebound soon and help revive the local economy.

“We sincerely hope that the tourism industry will recover soon and help revive the local economy.”

Summer Snow Cafe & Kids, also known as Summer Snow Bakery & Cafe, is located in Susupe, and offers a café, bakery, and indoor kids’ play area. The establishment is generally open daily from 8am to 10pm, and customers can call (670) 234-7669 for reservations, inquiries, or party bookings.