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Sichuan

All-you-can-eat deal dooms eatery

A Chengdu hotpot restaurant had to close 11 days after offering all-you-can-eat buffets for a month for just 120 yuan ($18) per person. Su Zhe, the boss of Jiamener Restaurant, said business had been out of control since June 1, when it launched the membership card promotion. The restaurant, which opened 11 am to 11 pm, attracted more than 500 diners a day, with some lining up outside at 8 am and others refusing to leave until midnight. There were no photos on the membership cards and no way to stop diners using them more than once a day. That meant card holders could either visit the restaurant multiple times a day or pass the cards to family members or friends to use.