Mall food just isn’t the same these days. Remember when ShowBiz Pizza had those robot animals singing while you ate, or when the staff at Farrell’s ran around with sirens for your birthday sundae? These weren’t just lunch stops – people planned their mall trips around eating at these places. Even the cafeterias like Morrison’s and Furrs made you feel at home with their comfort food and big portions.
The food courts we have now just can’t compare to what we had back then. Let’s revisit some of these beloved dining spots that once defined the American mall experience.
20. Hot Sam: The Pretzel Pioneer
That smell of fresh pretzels still haunts the memory of mall shoppers nationwide. Hot Sam kicked off in 1966 in Livonia, Michigan before spreading to roughly 175 locations across American malls by 1985. Their distinct orange-red brick interiors and rotating drum ovens that took 16 minutes to bake each pretzel made them mall landmarks.
Customers lined up for their unique toppings like cheese sauce and fudge. Mrs. Fields bought the chain in 1995 and rebranded it as Pretzel Time by 2005. Netflix viewers might spot Hot Sam making an appearance in Stranger Things, proving this pretzel pioneer’s cultural impact went beyond just selling twisted dough.
19. See’s Famous Old Time Candies: A Chocolatey Delight
Cult followings rarely emerge from candy counters, yet See’s Candies built exactly that since 1921 when Charles See founded the company. The black and white color scheme made their stores instantly recognizable, and their free samples policy turned curious mall-goers into paying customers. Walking into one of their 240+ locations meant trying a chocolate before buying boxes of toffee and fudge.
While the brand itself thrives with annual sales over $400 million (and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway behind it since 1972), many standalone mall stores vanished as the company faced challenges adapting to e-commerce. The stores might have disappeared from some malls, but the passionate customer loyalty didn’t.
18. Hickory Farms: Specialty Foods Retailer
Before online gift baskets, there was Hickory Farms. Richard Ransom founded the company in 1951, making a name with their meat and cheese gift boxes. At their peak, they operated over 550 year-round stores and 1,500 seasonal kiosks, pioneering the entire concept of food gifting. The General Host Corporation snatched them up, betting on future growth.
That bet didn’t pay off. Heavily reliant on holiday sales, they struggled to stay relevant year-round against growing competition from gourmet food retailers. By the mid-90s, Hickory Farms stores had mostly vanished from the mall landscape. In 2015, private equity firm Sun Capital Partners acquired the brand, shifting focus to e-commerce and wholesale channels.
17. The Original Cookie Company: A Taste of the ’70s
Mall corridors once carried the unmistakable aroma of fresh-baked cookies. Founded in the late 1970s, The Original Cookie Company dominated the 80s and early 90s mall scene with cookies baked fresh on-site. Their aroma-based marketing strategy was genius—the smell alone was practically shoplifting your wallet. They offered various classic and unique flavors, plus customizable gift tins and baskets.
But cookie competition got brutal as other chains moved in, and the company struggled to diversify beyond their core product. Changing mall traffic patterns delivered the final blow. Today, they survive mostly in the memories of Gen X and older Millennials who can still smell those cookies when they close their eyes.
16. Kenny Rogers Roasters: Roasted Chicken Juggernaut
What happens when a country music star teams up with a fast-food executive? Kenny Rogers Roasters launched in 1991 when country singer Kenny Rogers partnered with former KFC CEO John Y. Brown Jr. The chain exploded to over 350 locations, with the country star’s name plastered on every store. Their wood-fired rotisserie chicken and corn muffins positioned them as a healthier alternative to fried chicken and weren’t just food—they were an event.
The chain even scored a famous “Seinfeld” episode. But high operational costs and fierce competition pushed them into bankruptcy by 1998. While the U.S. stores closed, the Malaysian company Berjaya Group acquired the brand rights and built it into a powerhouse in Asia, where over 400 locations now operate. American malls lost the chicken, but Asia gained a roasting empire.
15. Caramel Corn: Candy-Coated Popcorn Sensation
Few snacks defined mall grazing better than caramel popcorn. Karmelkorn’s sweet smell traced back to Casper, Wyoming in 1929. By the 1960s, they peaked at over 200 locations, and their caramel corn became the definitive mall snack. Their unique recipe and strategic mall presence made them impossible to miss. They expanded beyond their signature caramel popcorn to offer various flavored options and other treats.
Dairy Queen bought the chain in 1986, slapping their own name on it as Dairy Queen Treat Center. As malls lost their shine and consumer snack preferences shifted, the popcorn stands fell one by one. While the brand still exists through online and specialty retailers, the standalone stores where that sweet aroma pulled you in are mostly memories – just like many snacks from the 70s that disappeared over time.
14. Orange Julius: The Frothy Orange Beverage
American beverage history changed forever when Julius Freed created his frothy, creamy orange juice concoction in 1926. The chain skyrocketed after perfecting its patented formula in 1929. By the 1960s, it had exploded to over 4,000 locations and even became the official drink of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The unique, frothy texture set it apart from regular juice stands.
As food courts expanded with more options, standalone Orange Julius stores struggled to compete with their limited menu. Dairy Queen merged with the brand in 1987, and today you’ll mostly find Orange Julius inside DQ locations in malls and shopping centers. The standalone spots where your parents or grandparents sipped their frothy orange drinks? They’re mostly history.
13. Piccadilly Restaurants: Simple Dining Experience
Southern dining traditions found their cafeteria expression in Piccadilly. Established in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1932, they didn’t just feed shoppers with their extensive menu of home-style dishes—they created Piccadilly Emergency Services to provide disaster relief meals. At their peak, they expanded to 270 locations across the Southeast, becoming a family dining institution.
After buying Morrison’s Cafe, they grew even larger, but struggled to attract younger diners against fast-casual competition. Bankruptcy filings in 2003 and again in 2012 shook their foundation. Their high operational costs from that extensive menu became harder to sustain. You can still find 41 locations as of 2021 if you’re in the right part of the South, but their once-dominant mall presence is mostly memory.
12. Hoolihan’s: Casual Dining and Bar
April Fool’s Day 1972 saw no joke when Houlihan’s opened in Kansas City, Missouri. The restaurant became a trendsetter in the industry with their bar-and-grill approach, diverse made-from-scratch menu, and creative cocktail program. Expanding to over 80 locations across the US, they helped define what casual dining could be in the 70s and 80s.
Fertitta Entertainment acquired the brand and pushed growth, but inconsistent brand identity across franchised locations and fierce competition slowly choked the chain. By 2019, their parent company filed bankruptcy, and Landry’s Inc. acquired what remained in 2020. While some locations still operate, most of Houlihan’s bar stools now sit empty.
11. Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips: A British Specialty
British cuisine made its fast-food debut when Arthur Treacher’s launched in Columbus, Ohio in 1969. Named after the English actor who became their spokesperson, the chain used authentic recipes from Malin of London for their distinctive batter. Their celebrity branding and unique offering carved out a niche in the burger-dominated fast food landscape.
The chain exploded to 826 locations at its peak in the mid-70s. Then came the “Cod Wars” when fish prices skyrocketed, devastating a business built entirely around affordable seafood. They filed for bankruptcy in 1983, and the brand has bounced between owners ever since. Today, only a handful of locations still exist, mostly co-branded with Nathan’s Famous, serving up nostalgia with a side of tartar sauce.
10. Roy Rogers: Fast Food Staple
Cowboy-themed fast food transformed the industry when Marriott Corporation founded Roy Rogers in 1968. Known for their “Triple Threat” of roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and burgers, they dominated the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Their signature Fixin’s Bar let customers customize their sandwiches—revolutionary for fast food at the time. Starting as a rebranded Ro-Bee’s House of Beef, Marriott pushed the chain to over 600 locations by the mid-1980s.
The Western theme and famous name gave them instant recognition. When Hardee’s parent company bought the chain in 1990, quality control suffered, sales dropped, and most locations converted to Hardee’s or closed for good. The brand has staged a comeback with 48 locations as of 2021, but that’s a far cry from their glory days.
9. Morrison’s Restaurants: Southern Cooking Favorite
Southern cuisine became accessible to everyone when Morrison’s opened in Mobile, Alabama in 1920. They pioneered the modern cafeteria concept with consistent quality and large portions that became a cultural institution throughout the South. The cafeteria-style service made it a mall fixture, but racial segregation allegations from earlier years cast a long shadow.
As competition increased and younger diners sought different experiences, customer numbers fell. Ruby Tuesday acquired the brand in 1982, leading to a phase-out in the 1990s when most locations converted to other restaurant concepts. The trays slid their last journey down those stainless steel rails, taking a piece of Southern dining history with them.
8. Gloria Jean’s Coffee: Australian-Based Coffee Shop
Gloria Jean’s took an unusual path, actually starting in Chicago in 1979 before becoming a coffee giant in Australia. They pioneered flavored whole bean coffees when most Americans still drank canned grounds. With a strong franchise model, they expanded to over 1,000 locations worldwide at their peak, helping introduce mall shoppers to specialty coffee before Starbucks dominated every corner.
Despite their early success, they struggled with brand consistency across franchises and fierce competition from larger chains. The Retail Food Group acquired them in 2014, focusing on international markets where the brand remains strong. While Gloria Jean’s thrives abroad, American mall shoppers won’t find them anymore, casualties of the coffee wars and changing consumer preferences.
7. Blimpie: Submarine Sandwich Chain
Sandwich innovation came from three Hoboken friends who started Blimpie on May 16, 1964, helping pioneer the submarine sandwich concept in fast food. Their “Bigger, Better Sub” slogan wasn’t just marketing—they sliced meats and cheeses fresh for each order, creating a distinctive flavor profile and bread that set them apart. The sandwich chain expanded impressively, reaching over 2,000 locations at their early-2000s peak.
Then came the identity crisis: they split into two separate companies, and worse, industry secrets leaked out, hurting their edge against growing competitors like Subway. Kahala Brands bought them in 2006 and tried rebranding, but intense competition and inconsistent branding across franchises proved too much. Today, about 300 locations remain, mostly in non-traditional spots, but Blimpie’s mall presence has faded to almost nothing.
6. Furrs Cafeteria: All-You-Can-Eat Marketplace
Home-style cooking scaled to feed crowds began when Furrs started serving all-you-can-eat in Hobbs, New Mexico in 1946. Their extensive menu of made-from-scratch items and family-friendly atmosphere made them the go-to spot for affordable dining in the Southwest. At their peak, they operated over 150 locations. Kmart bought them in 1980, hoping to cash in on their popularity, then sold them again in 1988.
As buffet dining fell from fashion and fast-casual restaurants stole market share, Furrs struggled to attract younger diners. The high operational costs of maintaining that massive buffet selection became unsustainable. After multiple bankruptcy filings, their parent company filed for bankruptcy one final time in 2021, closing all remaining locations during the pandemic and ending 75 years of serving hungry shoppers. VitaNova Brands acquired the brand rights, but Furrs’ future remains uncertain.
5. ShowBiz Pizza Place: Entertainment and Dining
Robotic animals singing to pizza-eating families sounds like science fiction, but ShowBiz made it reality. Robert L. Brock founded the concept in 1980, combining pizza with arcade games and animatronic shows. Their Rock-afire Explosion animatronic band was a technological marvel for its time, featuring characters that became beloved by a generation of kids. Expanding to over 250 locations, ShowBiz created the template for family entertainment centers nationwide.
Their rivalry with Chuck E. Cheese turned into an acquisition when Chuck’s went bankrupt. The merged company, ShowBiz Pizza Time, eventually rebranded everything as Chuck E. Cheese’s by 1992, erasing the ShowBiz name but keeping the business model. The high operational costs of maintaining those complex animatronics and changing entertainment preferences sealed ShowBiz’s fate. While the restaurants disappeared, the Rock-afire Explosion maintains a cult following to this day.
4. Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour: A Cozy Shack
Dessert theater rarely reached the heights of Farrell’s. Bob Farrell created his ice cream parlor in Portland, Oregon in 1963. It wasn’t just ice cream—it was performance art. Piano music played while singing staff in vintage uniforms served elaborate sundaes in a colorful, old-fashioned setting. Farrell’s became the destination for birthdays and celebrations, complete with sirens and drums for special occasions.
Growth hit 130 locations across the United States by the mid-70s, but after Marriott bought them in 1971, the magic started melting. The high operational costs of those elaborate presentations and the difficulty maintaining consistency across franchises led to declining sales. The chain vanished by 1990, though entrepreneurs attempted a revival in the 2000s. Those attempts ultimately failed, and the last two locations in California closed in 2019, ending the sticky-sweet chapter of Americana.
3. Harvest House: Deluxe Cafeteria
Where shoppers refueled mid-spending spree, Harvest House cafeterias occupied prime real estate inside Woolworth department stores. These spacious eateries became community gathering spots where tired mall-goers could rest and refuel over affordable meal specials. They offered consistent quality and reasonable prices, making them a reliable option for both shoppers and store employees.
When food courts started popping up in the 90s with their greater variety and flashier options, Harvest House struggled to compete. Their fate was sealed when their parent company faltered—when Woolworth closed its doors for good in 1997, Harvest House went down with the ship, ending an era when department store dining was as much a part of shopping as the merchandise itself.
2. York Steak House: Affordable Steak
Democratizing steak dinners for everyday Americans began in Columbus, Ohio in 1966 when York Steak House opened its doors. Their cafeteria-style design with calm atmosphere, dim lighting, and chandeliers created an upscale feeling without the upscale prices. Their signature “Cattle Baron Cut” sirloin brought quality beef to the masses. Under General Mills ownership, the chain expanded to over 200 locations across the United States, mostly in malls and shopping centers.
Their consistent menu made them a reliable choice for middle-class families looking for a special meal without breaking the bank. But sales dropped in the 80s as dining trends changed and competition increased from both fast-food and casual dining restaurants. By the early 90s, most York Steak Houses had closed their doors. Remarkably, one independent location still operates in Columbus, Ohio—the last place you can experience this once-ubiquitous chain.
1. Magic Pan: The Crepe Kings
Thin pancakes from Europe captivated American mall diners when Hungarian immigrants founded Magic Pan in San Francisco in 1965. Their open kitchens featured circular crepe-cooking stations where diners could watch their food being made—dinner and a show rolled into one. Offering both savory main courses and sweet desserts, they introduced French cuisine to mall-goers across America. Quaker Oats bought the concept in 1970 and pushed into malls nationwide, expanding to over 100 locations.
However, the high labor costs of those specialized cooking techniques and struggles to maintain consistency across franchises created problems. The expensive operation and changing food trends eventually led to most locations closing by the mid-1980s. While there have been limited revival attempts in recent years, the original Magic Pan where those crepe pans constantly spun is mostly a memory from the golden age of mall dining. Enjoyed reading about restaurants that once existed? You might also be interested in these stores from the past.
