16 New York Food-Court Chains That Should Be Retired Or Revived
Food courts are a whirlwind of choices, but some chains either wear out their welcome or deserve a second chance under the bright lights.
In New York, where every bite counts, certain spots have become classics while others quietly faded into the background.
Whether craving nostalgia or ready to say goodbye, the story of these food-court staples is full of flavor, drama, and plenty of opinions about who should stick around and who should take a bow.
1. Sbarro – Retire
Nothing screams “I settled for mediocrity” quite like that triangular slice of Sbarro pizza sitting sadly on your food court tray.
The once-novel mall pizza experience has devolved into rubbery cheese and soggy crust nightmares.
What used to be a convenient Italian fix has become the poster child for food court disappointment. Time to fold up those pizza boxes for good!
2. Nedick’s – Revive
Hot dogs and orange drinks were Nedick’s claim to fame. This quintessential New York fast food chain dominated the city from the 1920s through the 1970s, with their iconic orange and white stands becoming landmarks.
Their simple menu focused on perfecting basics rather than endless options. The signature orange drink alone deserves resurrection!
A modernized Nedick’s would bring authentic New York fast food history back to food courts currently drowning in generic chains.
3. Panda Express – Retire
Orange chicken that’s more sugar than chicken? Panda Express has mastered the art of turning Chinese cuisine into unrecognizable sweet glop.
Founded in 1983, this chain’s food court dominance needs to end. The sticky sauces and mystery meats have overstayed their welcome.
Even the fortune cookies seem to predict the same thing: “You will soon crave real Chinese food.”
4. Wetson’s – Revive
Before McDonald’s conquered New York, Wetson’s was the city’s homegrown burger chain. Operating from 1959 to 1975, they famously sold “15-cent hamburgers” in direct competition with the golden arches.
Their slogan “Look for the Orange Circles” guided hungry New Yorkers to quality fast food with local roots.
McDonald’s eventually won the burger wars, but a Wetson’s revival would bring back a taste of authentic New York fast food history that predates the national chain invasion.
5. Taco Bell – Retire
Fake Mexican food has no business in the culinary melting pot of New York. Taco Bell’s bizarre concoctions might satisfy 2 AM cravings, but they’ve lost their place in our sophisticated food courts.
The mystery meat and nuclear cheese combinations belong in fast food history books. With authentic taco options now abundant across the city, this bell has tolled its last ding.
6. Howard Johnson’s – Revive
The orange roofs of Howard Johnson’s once signaled road trip salvation across America.
Their food courts offered 28 ice cream flavors before Baskin-Robbins made it 31, plus comfort food classics that defined mid-century dining.
Founded in 1925, HoJo’s combined consistent quality with family-friendly atmosphere.
The last location closed in 2017, but a food court revival could bring back those famous clam strips and ice cream that made this chain an American institution.
7. Burger King – Retire
Fast food royalty has no place in New York’s food courts when superior burger options abound. The Whopper might have been revolutionary in 1957, but those flame-broiled patties have lost their sizzle.
The plastic crowns and increasingly desperate menu additions scream of a monarchy in decline.
With better burger joints on virtually every NYC corner, this king needs to abdicate its food court throne immediately.
8. Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips – Revive
British-style fish and chips wrapped in newspaper made Arthur Treacher’s a unique fast food player from 1969 until its decline in the 1980s.
Named after an English actor who often played butlers, the chain brought proper cod and chips to American malls. Their malt vinegar bottles and nautical-themed interiors created a distinct experience.
With only a handful of locations remaining nationwide, reviving this crispy fish specialist would fill a seafood gap in today’s burger-dominated food courts.
9. Subway – Retire
The unmistakable smell of Subway bread wafting through the mall should be classified as olfactory assault.
Those uniform sandwiches with wilted lettuce and suspiciously perfect meat circles need to catch the last train out.
Once revolutionary for customization, Subway has become the definition of bland. Even their “fresh” vegetables look tired of their own existence after sitting in those plastic bins all day.
10. Horn & Hardart – Revive
Before touchscreens, Horn & Hardart pioneered food technology with their revolutionary automat concept. Drop a nickel, open a little glass door, and grab a fresh sandwich or pie without human interaction!
This NYC institution operated from 1902 until 1991, serving quality food at reasonable prices.
The chrome-and-glass vending walls were technological marvels of their time. A modernized automat would be both nostalgic and perfectly suited for our contactless world.
11. Auntie Anne’s – Retire
Walking past Auntie Anne’s without getting a whiff of buttery pretzels is physically impossible. Yet these twisted dough creations have become more gimmick than substance.
The endless variations of sugar-coated carbs might trigger momentary joy, but the mall pretzel concept has grown stale.
What once seemed novel now feels like an outdated relic from the ’90s mall culture that refuses to evolve.
12. Chi-Chi’s – Revive
Fried ice cream and chimichanga heaven! Chi-Chi’s brought Tex-Mex to the masses before a 2003 hepatitis outbreak and bankruptcy ended their restaurant reign.
The sizzling fajita platters alone deserve another chance. Founded in 1975, Chi-Chi’s created a festive atmosphere that made every meal feel like a fiesta.
While the brand lives on in grocery products, bringing back their restaurant experience would fill the authentic Tex-Mex void in many food courts.
13. Cinnabon – Retire
That intoxicating cinnamon smell is basically mall-based psychological warfare. Cinnabon strategically pumps those aromas through vents to lure unsuspecting shoppers toward their sugar coma in a box.
Founded in 1985, these massive sugar bombs masquerading as breakfast treats have had their moment.
The novelty of watching someone slather frosting on a warm roll can’t justify the 880-calorie gut bombs they’re selling.
14. Roy Rogers – Revive
Singing cowboys and Fixins Bars made Roy Rogers the most interactive fast food experience of its era.
Named after the Western film star, this chain let customers customize burgers at elaborate topping stations decades before it became industry standard.
Their roast beef sandwiches and fried chicken rivaled specialists in both categories.
While some locations still exist in the Mid-Atlantic region, bringing Roy Rogers back to New York food courts would restore a piece of fast food innovation history.
15. Pretzelmaker – Retire
Living perpetually in Auntie Anne’s shadow, Pretzelmaker is the forgotten middle child of mall pretzels.
Their slightly different twist on the same concept hardly justifies two nearly identical pretzel shops in one food court.
The redundancy is painful. Those blue and yellow signs promising pretzel paradise deliver nothing Auntie Anne hasn’t already mastered. The pretzel market simply isn’t big enough for these dueling dough twisters.
16. Lum’s – Revive
Beer-steamed hot dogs made Lum’s a sensation from the 1950s through the 1980s. This Florida-born chain expanded to over 400 locations nationwide, including several in New York, before financial troubles ended their run.
Their signature Ollieburgers and hot dogs steamed in beer were culinary innovations at the time.
The casual family restaurant atmosphere combined with unique menu items would make a revived Lum’s stand out in today’s homogenized food court landscape.