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Farrell’s Ice Cream delays grand opening
October 22nd, 2009, 4:42 am · 31 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Sorry folks, but you’ll have to wait a little longer before Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour returns to Orange County.
The owners informed me that the Oct. 28 grand-opening has been put off a few days. No word yet on the new opening date.
The restaurant was originally set to open Oct. 19 at the Shops at Mission Viejo. That date got moved back twice with Oct. 28 being the last date publicized by the ice cream parlour.
Farrell’s co-owner Mike Fleming said he should have a new opening date by Friday.
“Hang tight with us. The store is really looking great and we have a wonderful staff,” Fleming said via email.
The ice cream shop’s return to O.C. has been much anticipated by fans who fondly remember celebrating special occasions at the chain’s restaurants in the 1970s and 1980s.
The 7,300-square-foot Mission Viejo mall restaurant will be the first of several “original concept” parlours planned in California by Laguna Niguel-based Parlour Enterprises.
At its peak, Farrell’s boasted more than 130 restaurants in the United States. Several were located in Orange County.
The other week, I had a chance to walk down memory lane by visiting the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Santa Clarita. That restaurant, which opened in 2001, has served as a prototype for future Farrell’s.
This particular restaurant serves Thrifty ice cream. I asked Fleming if this would be the same ice cream served in Mission Viejo.
He didn’t say, but promised the quality will not disappoint.
“The Farrell’s ice cream selection which was made many years ago consisted of hundreds of blind taste tests with all of the top ice cream manufacturers,” Fleming said. “Some even submitted special blends. We wanted the best and we’ve got it. And as far as toppings, you’ll taste none better than Farrell’s.”
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- BEFORE: The Pig Trough. I wish it had more whip cream like the one in the photo above.
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- AFTER: We dug, we ate, but the Pig Trough was too much for my family of 3!
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- Me and the Pig Trough!
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HOW ABOUT HAVING A FARRELL’S ICE CREAM OUT HERE IN NORTH ORANGE COUNTY? Not everyone; like me; can get out to South County….
BEFORE YOU TRY IT, ASK YOURSELF IS IT WORTH IT TO HAVE A HEARTACHE OR GET FATTER AFTER CONSUMING THESE HIGH FAT ICE CREAM. LOOK AT ALL THE OBESE YOU SEE AT THE HOSPITAL OR DMV
Wow, it must be terrible to live in a place where they force you to eat all this ” high fat ice cream”…oh wait, that hasn’t happened AT ALL. Geez, if you don’t like it…just don’t go.
Before you type, turn off the caps lock key. I don’t go to DMV, I go to the Auto Club.
If you’re that worried about calories, stick to your celery stics and diet soda. Don’t bother the rest of us with dieatery sermons.
Last time I checked, ice cream can’t give you a heartache. It doesn’t hurt your feelings. It doesn’t say mean things to you, and it tastes good.
@Scott: LOL!! Love your comment.. Lexus is always preaching to us obese ice cream/hamburger lovers on this blog…
you are basically at the center of a food blog, we love to eat…you can go to a weight watchers blog if you don’t like this one…
Yes, it’s worth it!!……and if I get fat it’s my problem NOT YOURS!!!
Nancy,
What did you think about that location in Santa Clarita?
I didn’t have high expectations for Santa Clarita because the Parlour folks always talk about it as a “test” site that is part of a cheesy fun center..as expected, it doesn’t really have the same charm as the old Farrell’s….I also was a bit put off by the employees that wore “visors” instead of cane hats…the owners told me that the visors are being tested due to complaints from the staff about the hats being hot and falling off when scooping. So, they are only allowed in the fountain area, not in the dining room. I tell you this, it was fun to hear the siren, and see the big Farrell’s drum being gonged for a few birthday songs!
Can’t wait for the opening! And Judith, I agree!!! Too bad the Farrell’s couldn’t be central to everyone in OC…but ya know what? It will be worth the drive!
Hey Nancy, if you get the opportunity to check this place out before it is opened, can you check and see if they have a player piano there? That was one of my favorite parts of Farrells, watching the mechanical ivories play. The one I used to go to in the San Fernando Valley had a automated band machine that was complete with percussion, windpipes, even a strumming banjo. It was cool!
Golden Spoon people!!!! Also this place is probably going to be so expensive for the smallest sundae. Go to Albertsons and buy the ingredients to make your own if you want it so much!
I think the idea here is the ambiance, not just the ice cream. By the time I bought a barbershop outfit, hat, bow tie, bass drum, and a siren for my house, I would have spent far more than if I’d just gone to Farrells.
Get it?
Eating at home is ALWAYS cheaper than eating out……………..I guess you NEVER EVER EVER eat in a restaurant?…no wonder why your so annoyed, you have lo life!
he he…………I meant NO life but maybe LO life works too???….LOL
Oh yeah makes so much sense,10 bucks(probably more) to hear sirens!!!! Great form of entertainment…
As I recall from my youth, Thrifty ice cream was quite good. Just as good to me as the over-priced ‘premium’ ice creams that go by fancier names.
Well, I for one will be bringing all of my kids to Farrells as SOON as they are open just for the experience of it! You can’t put a price on a happy memory for a child! Live life everyone and try to see things in a positive light, as difficult it seems to be for some apparently! Hurry Farrells! We’re waiting!!!!
Geez, no offense, but how can we trust a restaurant writer who, even assisted by two others, can’t finish a pig trough?
I remember the Farrells on Beach Blvd in HB as a small kid. Great memories. Kids totally enjoy things us cynical parents couldn’t possibly understand. I liked the jawbreakers the best!
What I remember Farrells for is cheap ice cream smothered with cheap sticky toppings. Even as a kid, it was not very good.
Sort of like expecting good pizza at Chuck E. Cheese.
It’s a kid party place, don’t expect anything more.
Dear Fast Food Maven Readers:
I am the CEO of Parlour Enterprises Inc, the company reintroducing Farrell’s.
I love reading your postings regarding the opening, memories, and comments on Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Mission Viejo.
Nothing in life can be exactly what it was 30 years ago. However, we are trying to make sure those of you who visited Farrell’s a long time ago will not be disappointed. Those of you who never experienced Farrell’s we hope will become new Farrell’s fans.
“Patrick”, yes we have the player piano and you will love it.
“Annoyed” will be very surprised at how reasonable our prices
“Steve” you are right…Farrell’s not only has ambiance…but it has fun, laughter, and the quality of our food (and prices) will put a huge smile on your face.
“Hey Now”, the siren is FREE…except you do have to be there because you are celebrating something to get it. As a matter of fact, if it’s your birthday, even the Sundae is free!
And “John B”, when you taste our ice cream, and the fresh toppings, you’ll order a Pig’s Trough the next time.
We hope you’ll all stop by when we open and you can meet Bob Farrell, the founder who has been with us all the way.
Sincerely,
Michael Fleming
wow this is crazy. I worked at farrells in the early 80’s the one in city of Orange across the street from the Orange mall on tustin. I have alot of great memories there on and off duty. my arms were so strong back then because of scooping ice cream for 8 hrs a day, and after our work shift we all went to dennys down the street to eat and talk. loved it, well when you open i will have to check it out
terri
Thanks Terri for writing in..Do you recall, at all, when the Orange Farrell’s closed?
ah…last time…1986..in Reseda and LA Reservoir park campgrounds..my 21st birthday…in rain! 3hrs in dark…spying on procommunist Great Peace March practice campsite..with guard dogs…ugh..my friends and I launched furtive bottlerockets on stupid campers..ugh..oh well…then in rain drove to local Farrells and had dinner and my first LEGAL beer….oh the memories….egad…almost 24 years ago…. well I dont drink anymore…so..maybe get a shake.. look forward to it…
OMG!! I’m so excited to hear my old time fav is coming back! I will absolutely make the drive from Long Beach to MV just to stuff myself and my daughter full of ice cream I could get at the drug store just to sit there cheesing like a little kid!! I loved Farrell’s and cried when they closed the one in Long Beach. Welcome back!
(I’ve read several comment sections of a variety of blogs lately and really don’t get the naysayers and buzzkillers. Why read or comment if you’re not feeling the joy? Just keep on moving and let us enjoy our high fat, overpriced, siren screeching, drum banging fun…)
They don’t want to put one in north OC because there are to many poor people there. They want it in south OC with the money. Were in Laguna Beach, can’t wait!
I used to have my birthdays as a kid at the one in HB. I miss it! They used to run around with the ice cream in fireman helmets with wailing sirens, it was great. A restaurant dedicated to ice cream, gotta love it. Plus the candy store you had to navigate at the checkout counter, ha ha, now all the supermarkets do that.
I hope they have good ice cream this time around.
Oh, and nanny state people telling me what to eat, mind your own business. I ate at Farrell’s as a kid and I am not some fat diabetic. I am 42 and would probably smoke your arse on my bicycle. Only lazy schlubs worry about diets. Go burn it off if you feel guilty! Get off the couch!
Today (10/29) the sign in front of Farrell’s door said they’re opening Nov. 5.
We are opening on Wednesday, November 4th at 11:00am! Everyone will love this Farrell’s. Bob Farrell has been here since Friday to be part of the training. He told us that this is the best looking Farrell’s he has ever seen.
There are plenty of original Farrell’s elements here from the red flocked wallpaper to the player piano and we have an wonderful cast working here.
As someone who was a part of Farrell’s back in the old days, I am so proud of what we have done here to bring Farrell’s back for a new generation. I have talked with many people who come to look into the windows and they all rave about how this parlour looks.
“Take A Sundae Drive to Farrell’s!”