20 Forgotten Food Court Chains That Deserve a Comeback
How Many Of These Mall Munchies Do You Remember?
Before we started buying everything online, the mall was a social hub, centered around the food court, where teenagers would congregate over soft pretzels, frothy orange soft drinks, and cheap stir-fries. Shopping centers don't hold the same cultural significance that they used to, with countless beloved chains that once defined our shopping excursions quietly fading into memory. Where Samurai Sam's used to be, a poke bowl or boba joint stands in its place, but the smell of teriyaki sauce will forever make us think of new clothes. Here are 20 forgotten food court legends that absolutely deserve a triumphant comeback.
1. TCBY
The Country's Best Yogurt (TCBY) essentially started the froyo craze back in the 1980s, capitalizing on the anti-fat diet. Just about every mall had a TCBY location where you could top your "healthy" fat-free frozen yogurt with anything from fruit to gummy bears. The company has more or less disappeared, but not without passing the baton to younger froyo chains like Menchie's.
2. Chi-Chi's
Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant chain in the US that had smaller express versions operating in many food courts across the country. A hepatitis A outbreak led to the company's bankruptcy in 2004.
3. Kenny Rogers Roasters
In the 90s, it was popular for celebrities to back restaurants, hence Kenny Rogers Roasters, a casual chicken restaurant inspired by the country singer's love of good food. At its peak, it had a significant footprint in food courts across America.
4. Hot Sam Pretzels
Before Auntie Annie's became the one pretzel shop to rule all malls, Hot Sam had a massive presence in food courts. It was acquired in 1995 by Mrs. Feilds and merged with their Pretzel Time brand because how many different mall pretzel shops do we need, anyway?
5. Great American Cookie Co.
Remember cookie cakes? They were all the rage at kids' birthday parties for several decades. Chances are, your mom got yours from the mall at this cookie chain, which claims to be the home of the original cookie cake.
6. Chicken George
Chicken George was a Black-owned restaurant serving up Southern classic dishes that got its start in Baltimore's Mondawmin Mall in 1979. At its peak, it had locations in food courts around the East Coast, Atlanta, and LA before filing for bankruptcy in the early 90s.
7. Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips
Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips once had over 800 locations, many of which were located in food courts. Now, it's significantly scaled down, with only the odd few standalone locations still in operation.
OldTimerBillySlater on Wikimedia
8. Panda Inn
Before Panda Express became the quintessential food court Asian stir fry restaurant, Panda Inn was the more predominant player. Owned by the same parent company, it's where the orange chicken giant got its start.
9. Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs
Nathan's Famous, while not totally defunct, certainly doesn't have the same presence in malls that it used to. The classic hot dogs and crinkle fries will forever live in our mall memories.
10. Blimpie
Believe it or not, Blimpie used to be a formidable competitor to Subway in the 80s and 90s, with franchise locations dotting mall food courts around the country. Since the early 2000s, it has significantly scaled down to the point where the sub shop is now a rare sight.
11. MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery
MaggieMoo's cow-adorned logo is positively burned into our mall memories from the early aughts, synonymous with the sweet treat we were awarded with after a day of shopping. It has since been acquired by Marble Slab Creamery, with most locations converted into Marble Slab stores.
12. Taco Viva
Before Taco Bell, there was Taco Viva, a popular taco shop that expanded into malls in the 1980s. It was eventually bought out by Miami Subs, and all locations were converted or closed by 2005.
13. La Salsa
La Salsa is a chain of Tex-Mex restaurants founded in a mall in LA that featured a vibrant self-serve salsa bar. La Salsas were commonly found in mall food courts around the US at some point, but as of last year, there were only five locations left.
14. Orange Julius
The creamy, frothy, orange drink was the quintessential mall treat of the 80s. Standalone Orange Julius stores no longer exist, but you can find them affiliated with Dairy Queen.
15. Karmelkorn
Karmelkorn was a popcorn retailer found in malls across America. It was founded back in the 1920s and grew into a formidable snack empire before people started losing interest in novelty popcorn. It was eventually bought out by Dairy Queen.
personalgraphic.com on Unsplash
16. Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill
Once a popular food court staple, Samurai Sam's has significantly reduced its presence in mall food courts across America. Even so, we'll always associate the distinct aroma of stir fry with our mall shopping experiences.
17. Sweet Tomatoes
Sweet Tomatoes, also called Souplantation in some regions, was a common sight in malls across the country, offering shoppers a healthy way to refuel. The all-you-can-eat salad bar sadly went out of business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
18. The Original Cookie Company
We'll always remember the sweet smell of cookies permeating out of The Original Cookie Company. It started selling cookies in malls in the 70s before being acquired by Cookie Place, then Mrs. Feilds, because how many cookie places does the mall need, anyway?
19. Miami Subs Grill
Miami Subs Grill still exists, but it underwent a significant rebrand as Miami Grill. The new version offers a more diverse menu and a design and atmosphere overhaul, but we miss that somewhat trashy Miami Vice style branding of old.
20. Manchu Wok
Stir-fries became synonymous with mall food courts thanks to their efficiency in preparation and their perceived healthiness. Manchu Wok was the quintessential mall stir-fry joint, and while it's still around, its food court dominance is not what it used to be.
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