Last January, I started a thread of fond memories for Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours. I wanted the board to know that the chain is coming back.
The first new Farrell’s is open for business in Santa Clarita, CA. I don’t know whether they’ve had their official grand opening yet, but the place was open and essentially complete on July 5th when I was last there.
To get to it, take Interstate 5 to Valencia Blvd in Santa Clarita. Head east on Valencia for about 5 miles. (You’ll pass a small speedway on your right, it’s about a mile past that.) On the right, there will be a small street running parallel to Valencia. At the end of the street is a Bullwinkle’s Family Fun Center (miniature golf, go-karts, batting cages, etc.) That’s where the Farrell’s is, in the arcade there. Apparently the city isn’t allowing them much in the way of signs, so it’s not easy to spot the Farrell’s from the street…but it’s there.
I’ve been talking to the folks that are running the franchise since February, and they’ve done some remarkable things with the menu. The old favorites are still there (the Pig’s Trough, the Zoo, the Gibson Girl, etc.) and some new items have been added, mostly to the hot food side of the menu. The next one they plan to open will be in or near The Block in Orange, CA.
For those of you in Southern California, or visiting there who remember Farrell’s, this is a great way to spend a few hours with an old friend we all thought had left us for good.
Yes, they will still give out ribbons for making a pig of yourself at Farrell’s. They’ve added a new twist to it, though. You get a ribbon for eating the Pig’s Trough, one for eating the Gibson Girl, and one for eating the Mt. Whitney (maybe it’s Mt. St. Helens, I’d have to check and I don’t have the material with me). When you win all 3 ribbons, you receive a tri-eat-thlete button and are enshrined on the wall.
As far as singing Happy Birthday, I feel a lot more sorry for the poor kids who work at Chuck E Cheese’s…the “floor show” there is something I can tolerate only once
As an attendee at the San Diego Farrell’s Dopefest, I can tell you with extreme certainty:
Do not simply feel sorry for the folks working at Farrell’s. Feel sorry for every guest that must hear the gong, whistle, singing, and see the flickering lights every time it’s someone’s special day.
Ah! The flashbacks!
Thank God the ice cream sundaes are there. For sanity’s sake.
Good, now I can redirect my candy supply caravan to Santa Clarita instead of San Diego. I can’t wait to buy more everlasting gob-stoppers and mega-pixie sticks…
[sub]I’m still remembering what Mercutio had said when he walked in… “Oh God. This is what we’d be doing every Saturday night if the Nazi’s had won.”[/sub]
Dunno 'bout a Wedding thing, but I’m sure we’ll show up otherwise.
I’d love to attend a Farrell’s Dopefest, but I won’t be able to travel until October. Where do I send the bribe to make sure it’s not till then???
Tucker, according the the 5-year plan from the Farrell’s folks, they want to open some 17 corporate-owned stores (in the Los Angeles/Orange/San Diego Counties area) and 19 franchise stores (which could be almost anywhere in the country). I don’t know of a specific location outside of So Cal, but who knows where the franchise stores will be?
