- NEWS
- SPORTS
- Lakers rout Thunder 1 hour & 20 minutes ago
- O.C. football: Updated playoff brackets
- USC at a crossroads 27 minutes ago
- Bruins have their sights set on victory 20 minutes ago
- BUSINESS
- ENTERTAINMENT
- LIFE
- TRAVEL
- OPINION
Farrell’s Ice Cream opens Wednesday, big parties booked for days
November 1st, 2009, 4:15 pm · 79 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
After a few minor delays, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour will make its Orange County return Wednesday in Mission Viejo.
It’s been at least two decades since the last Farrell’s operated in Orange County. Anticipation for the opening of the old-fashioned soda fountain has been so high, it may be hard to get a table. Large parties have already booked reservations through mid-November, according to the restaurant’s answering machine.
Rendering of the Farrell's exterior
As a result, Farrell’s won’t take reservations for parties of 8 to 12 until after Nov. 15.
Bookings for larger parties (20 to 45 people) won’t be available until January, the restaurant said.
In the meantime, the operators have worked hard to recreate the Farrell’s that everyone remembers from the 1970s and 1980s — from the player piano to the pin-stripe uniforms.
Uniform renderings/sketches
“We want everything to be the way you remember Farrell’s of the past. Even the detail on uniforms is being researched,” Farrell’s said on its Facebook page.
Farrell’s opens at the Shops at Mission Viejo at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Phone: 949-364-5411
(Photos courtesy of Farrell’s Facebook page. )
Tell us: Do you plan to attend the grand opening? If so, write in and let us know how it went.
The marquee sign
Farrell's founder Bob Farrell (center, no hat) in new Mission Viejo restaurant.
More on Farrell’s:
79 Comments
Leave a Reply
-
ADVERTISEMENT
-
The Catch: Burger Contest Results
The soon-to-be-open The Catch in Anaheim held a burger contest this month. Some of the "killer burgers" will be featured on the restaurant's revamped menu. To view a photo gallery of the burgers, click on the image or CLICK HERE .
The Catch Burger Contest
-
Restaurants Out of Business
The recession is forcing many Orange County restaurants to shutter, and we're trying to track them all for you. Check out our O.C. Restaurant Closure List for the latest updates. -
O.C. Frozen Yogurt Shops
-
-
-
-
Report: Restaurants on Twitter
Special report: Restaurants are jumping on the Social Media bandwagon. But is Eating and Tweeting luring diners? READ FULL STORY
- How Twitter-savvy are chains? CLICK HERE to see how the Fast Food Maven rates local and national chains on Twitter.
-
Contact the Fast Food Maven
Follow the Fast Food Maven on Twitter or 'Friend Me' on Facebook.
Send tips reviews, gripes to nluna@ocregister.com
Nancy Luna, the Fast Food Maven
The Orange County Register
625 N. Grand Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92711-1626
-
-
-
-
-
16th annual People's Choice
From your favorite restaurants and shops to the best day spa in town, here are your choices for the number one places to eat, shop and play in O.C.
Browse the 2009 Best of Orange County winners -
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t plan to attend the grand opening.
If they were so popular in the 70s and 80s, why did they close so many locations (or go out of business?). It was a decent place for kids though.
Why so negative, se? No one cares if you are going to the grand opening. Something tells me they will get along just fine without you.
They had trouble because the parent company (MARIROTT) didn’t think it was a “good business” They bought Six Flags at the same time and couldn’t handle it all.
And look how that turned out!!! Marroitt is tanking and Farrells could be going strong…
I’m going! and I’m taking my kids (19 and 23 year old’s that only remember birthday parties through pictures). The Chocolate Ice Cream Puff was to DIE for…hope it;s still good!
Farrels failed because it cost $20 for a family of four to have an ice cream. back then. They same will happen again once the novelty wears off for the newbies
Really? They are all booked up? What the heck? i called AND emailed them asking to book since Sept. So since they didn’t announce any way to book, how are they booked already?
Bad way to start off in my books…
Mangoso– The restaurant takes walk-ins only. The restaurant only makes reservations for larger parties of 8 to 12…Those are the tables that are “all booked” according to the message machine.
Yes - and that is exactly what I contact them for back in Sept. Here is was I was emailed back:
Thank you for your email and interest in booking your party at Farrell’s at The Shops at Mission Viejo.
We are projecting a mid-October opening.
I suggest you watch for the updates on our opening on either TWITTER (FarrellsIsBack) or FACEBOOK (Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor) and/or our web site http://www.FarrellsUSA.com.
Once our computer system is in place, we will be ready to accept reservations. We expect that to be around the first of October. We are excited to be able to make new Farrell’s memories to a new generation.
See you soon!
Sincerely,
Michael Fleming
CEO
Farrell’s International
there was never ANY info on Facebook about being able to book parties.
I loved that place. Had many great memories. I hope it works out and they build more. Chino Hills would be great.
I do wonder how they can open, now, in this bad economy when they didn’t make it before.
Just looking at the pictures sure doesn’t look like the old Farrells that I remember, looks more like aDark P F Changs, than a fun place to go to take or have a party for kids or teenagers.
Hope things work out for them. Like “Se” above, I will also wait and see how things go
PF changs its an overpriced Panda express.
I do not go there.
keep it green.
http://www.alternativeenergygoods.com
Thanks for posting a link to your crappy website. No one cares Lupe.
Hey Lou!,
My comment wasn’t about the food at P F Chang’s (wither pricey or not) but the Dark look of Farrells in the picture, and how you got “keeping it green” out of my comment, I’ll never know or care. Seems just another thing that is brain washing everyone and espically our kids. I amazedd to here what is being taught in school
I hope that they do succeed, but with the Southern California mind set of “All Fat is Bad” , they better have all thier flavors “Fat Free” or they are going to have a hard time with parents. Example: Krispy Kream Death Nill: Attitued mention above and the low carb craze killed thier business.
Anyway Good Luck to Them! They are going to need it.
I agree! These pics don’t show the Farrells I remember. But I used to like going because it was a festive atmosphere and the ice cream creations were fun.
Good luck to Farrells!
I’ll take a lemon chicken please.
this looks almost exactly like the original farrell’s. It was dark in there and the old time music was playing and when someone was getting the zoo delivered everyone stopped to watch them run through the restaurant and the drum was banging and it was a lot of fun and the ice cream desserts were very good. Although i was about 10 years old the last time I was in a Ferrels. I am sure Mike will try to get it as close to the original as he can. He does have a true passion for bringing this nastalgic place back to the oc.
I’m with both of the above. Just like Sonic….it will die down in no time and you will be able to walk in and get a table.
They used to be so good.
I believe when you have upper management rapeing the company for every dollar they make in profit it causes this kind of losses.
Whatch the CEOs of Farrells start to reel stock and bonuses right away not leaving $ for harder times that will cause the company to sink again. Its corporate america. Its not the CEOs company so they only care about making money asap, since they know they may not have a job later.
Keep it green.
http://www.alternativeenergygoods.com
What are you talking about? Go gripe on the business blogs.
I wouldn’t want to sit next to a grouch like you at Farrell’s anyway. Leave us and our ice cream in peace.
P.S. Your website sucks.
Whine whine whine. Why do you three think anyone here cares whether you go or not? Self-centered much?
Hi Marie,
where is the love and compasion??
Hey Marie,
what are you part owner? Get a life, Farrell’s is not the fantasy land you think it is.
What’re you, Marie, an attitude cop? You need to calm down and let the ppl voice their opinions w/o getting yer panties in a knot.
Following your own advice, Archie. You need to calm down and let me voice my opinion w/o getting your panties in a knot.
Dam Marie what are you part owner? You sure seem to care what a couple of people think about a lame ass ice cream parlour from the 80’s.
Oh look, the Register is now letting use names with profanities in them. Isn’t that special. I wonder how the advertisers on Ms Luna’s page will feel about that?
Doesn’t look like the Farrell’s I worked at in high school. We had a black and white floor that was a pain to strip and wax every Saturday night. We used to turn up the A/C and music in zones where tables weren’t turning over fast enough. We also had an Asteroid’s game where I spent 1 quarter for my whole break. Those black skirts, ruffled blouses and “nurse” shoes were a pain. It was good training for working hard.
Why did it go by the wayside?
There is a great article by Roger Baker located at:
http://www.happyitis.biz/
In looking back- there are a number of reasons.
1. Most of the traffic was summer-driven / summer related. When I was there (1975) there was more emphasis on ice cream vs. food. At least Will Wright’s, albeit expensive, had a winter menu.
2. Remember “The Zoo?” Someone complains about the plastic animals and you know the rest of the story.
3. Overhead. It costs serious cash to keep candy and other items in stock.
4. Wages. Waiters don’t get paid a $1.65 an hour anymore.
5. Tips- Waiters get cheap with tipping their bussing people. Starbucks has developed a “workaround.”
7. Who’s got cash to throw wild and crazy parties these day?
8. Arden- Mayfair, used to own all of the Farrell’s until part of it was sold off to Marriott, in the 70’s. Arden- Mayfair, the same Mayfair Markets, used to be part of Western Dairies and Arden Farms, who sold dairy products. I believe they ran a better shop, but in selling off to Marriott, the customers ended-up being the losers.
The pictures of some of the newer stores, seemed streamlined and more like a hospital and lack the exterior of old.
Hopefully, the new folks who own these stores, will return to the quality food that used to be served, instead of going with commercial-grade products.
I wonder, how much money Dianne Fienstein’s husband, Rick Blume lost on his venture with Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor?
Nobody care about you marie, are u getting off on caring what other peoples opinions are?
Right back at you, Robbie. Nobody cares about you including the woman who gave birth to you.
Maybe they are saying that they are not going to attend because it says…….Tell us: Do you plan to attend the grand opening? If so, write in and let us know how it went.
I don’t care about antone else’s negative views. I have only good memories of Farrells of old. The Zoo, the Trough, the decor, the cameraderie and, of course, the ice cream. Welcome back; I wish you great success!
I think its time for nice dessert place that people can both afford and enjoy with the whole family ! We cant take children many places where their raised sugar level is embrassed. It is, also, a place where children can have special parties to remember as I did.
We all should look at the good and positive side of life. Maybe you would be more happy and less aggressive !
Back home in Australia Farrell’s use to serve Kangaroo-dogs (hot dogs made with roo meat) and wonderful Ostrich burgers! Yummy! But of course we went their for the ice cream! My favorite was the Walk-About Sundae (we called them Platues) with kiwi ice cream and mint sauce!
There sure seems to be a lot of doom-and-gloom going on. I hope Farrells is a huge success. I remember taking our kids to the one on Beach Blvd. for their birthdays. They loved it! I am now looking forward to taking our grandkids to the new Farrells in MV. Sure wish they would open one near Orange, though. I say “Go Farrells - yaaay!!”
One location a success does not make. It’s south county…where people still have jobs..bound to have foreign born customers that want to feel like their doing the American thing. Once everybody is reminded that ice cream has a high fat content and is why they and their children are obese Farrell’s will die a natural death. One only has to look at the 31 Flavors that have closed to see what is happening.
There are a lot of foreign nationals who live in the OC and are paid well and are encouraged to blend in lest they cause a problem. Along with that there are those who have come to believe that the OC represents the ulitmate in lifestyles and have moved here.
The weather, the ambiance and the lifestyle is seductive and has been for many years. If you have been here for any length of time you will have seen what Newport Beach down to Laguna Beach has promoted. It’s history has been replete with some of America’s rich and famous.
Back to the point…Farrell’s with be successful for awhile but will die away with the hedonistic life that spond it.
Nobody is saying to live at Farrell’s.
Is it Debbie Downer day here?
Hedonistic lifestyle spawned Farrell’s? Oh, that’s rich.
I don’t really think Farrel’’s will be attracting the Real Housewives of OC set. Why do you think they put it in Mission Viejo and not Newport??
How many people here remember the Zoo?
My daughter is 40, but I’ll take her and her kids there for her birthday. I hope they have some of the zany atmosphere.
Pretty sad when taking your kids out for ice cream is considered hedonistic.
I hope that the new Farrell’s business model works out and that families find this a fun place for an afternoon treat.
I won’t be heading south for it, but I was happy to see these photos. Reminded me of my youth at the Farrell’s in Riverside and the many times my high school friends and I were tossed out of there!
Might try to go. Will have to see how things are going that morning.
I used to work at a Baskin Robbins in high school. What was very clear was the most obese and poorest people would spend the most money.. all the time, without fail. Somehow, they’d always have plenty of cash for the sugar & fat that their diebetic or pre-diabetic bodies craved- it was sad. They should have just bought it at a grocery store and saved a lot of money.. oh well, guerss that’s why they’re in that position in the first place.
Farrell’s will become “Farewell’s” outside of rich white Mission Viejo.
Will never go to China Hills, the Hood or outside South OC or environs.
Lifestyle and economy are preclusive to this type of overhyped discretionary spending in this era.
I predict success in MV but would be cautious of them expanding outside their high, upper income demos.
Just look at Cold Stone’s recent barrage of store failures and you can see how this type of product is not for the masses anymore.
Ohhhhhhh I get it, “Farewells” is a play of words on “Farrells”. Teehee. Now THAT is comedy gold, people. MV Mummy should take her “talent” to New York City and join NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”, so she can be around othr people who think they are funny but are not.
Marie:
Tell us something we don’t know and try to think like an intelligent consumer, for a change.
I hope your life gets better, Marie. It’s too short to be so bitter.
My goodness, you would think they were serving sundaes layered with 24K gold flakes!
Farrell’s is an ice cream parlor in an average suburban mall that also serves burgers and BLT’s and chef salads for 8 to 12 bucks. It’s not Maxims de Paris. Americans are wealthier now than they ever have been, certainly much wealthier than they were in 1975. If people can afford a cell phone and a home computer and 500 TV channels, they can certainly afford to take the kids out for ice cream and a burger occasionally.
Keep it clean, keep it friendly, keep it fun, offer great service and a unique experience, and people will flock to it. Good luck Farrell’s! I’ll try you out in a few weeks!
I don’t know Troy. There’s a lot of hyperbole in your post. I do agree with you that IN GENERAL Americans are wealthier now than in 1975, BUT we are also in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Folks’ 401ks have tanked (a lot of that wealth compared to 1975 has evaporated), the value of their homes has tanked, a significant percentage of the population has either lost a job, had a spouse lose a job, have had their hours reduced or their pay cut — yet prices and cost of living has stayed relatively the same as it was during the last boom years.
So I think you’re somewhat off base in your comment here. You’re turning a blind eye to the reality of the economy right now — a lot of people have cancelled cell phone plans, haven’t bought a new home computer when in the past they may have upgraded, and many people are significantly cutting their cable selections. I think 8-12 bucks for a sandwich is pushing it these days (especially for a sandwich at an ice cream parlor). Add a $4-$6 sundae desert (or more) and you’re looking at $75 with tax and tip for a family of four to eat dinner and get a dessert (because why would you go to Farrell’s to eat if you’re not going to get dessert).
I say good luck to Farrell’s but I tend to agree with the others who are skeptical that this place can be successful in our current economic environment (if anyone believes the recession is over as the Feds indicated last week, I’ve got a bridge to sell you…)
Could be different because Farrell’s is about an experience more than Cold Stone is. Sometimes people even in poverty will splurge a little for a fun experience here and there. Most misconceptions about Farrell’s stem from people thinking, “it’s a place to go get ice cream.” No, it’s a place where you go and have a once-in-a-blue-moon experience. In the first fifteen years of my life I went to the one on Beach Blvd. a handful of times with my family, once or twice for friends’ birthday parties, and once with my karate group and I remember each trip. But I went to places like Thrifty, Sav-On, Baskin-Robbins, etc. “to get ice cream.”
For those of you who are arguing on here, I.e. Marie, Christian, etc…
REMEMBER:
Arguing on the Internet is like winning a gold medal in the Special Olympics; even though you win, you’re still RETARTED.
Wow…not only are you ignorant, but, you are also not intelligent enough to spell the offensive word correctly. And to think posting all by your lonesome self at 12:37AM, you thought you were being funny. Joke is on you.
Then why are you arguing?
Even though I’m in North County I don’t mind taking a trip down South to check this place out. I was 5 when I made my first visit to the one in Orange which used to be a Spoons and is now Lobster Palace.
I hope Marie will be there on opening day so I can meet her. Hey Marie you up for a PIG TROUGH?
We used to go to Swensons in HB - wish they’d come back! We still make some of their wonderful sundae combos.
Never went to Farrell’s, so it’s dubious that we’d go to MV for a “grand opening”
I’ll be there every night eating the pigs loft…alone as usual.
Marie is a loser who obviously works for this place! She probably mops up the ice cream all the fat kiddies and their parents spill..Listen Marie, this place is gone in a year,so start applying elsewhere!
Oh man, ya need to visit Stricklands!
Strickland’s
4523 Campus Drive
Irvine, California
What ?
In all fairness to Farrell’s, Stricklands is pure mediocrity with so-so ice cream and a tired presentation.
I’d take the kids to Farrell’s any day to try over Stricklands if we want an old fashioned, full fledged ice cream experience.
Farrell’s were actually around in the 60’s. I remember going on dates to Farrell’s in high school which for me was the late 60’s. That was in San Diego. Maybe they didn’t get to OC until later.
The first Farrell’s opened up in Portland in 1963. By the mid 60’s they were growing in the Northwest, and in the late 60’s they had arrived in SoCal; San Diego, San Fernando Valley, etc. Not sure when the first OC location opened.
Fast Food Maven:
I see no comment guidelines posted with the blog articles but in other OCR stories one of the written rules has to do with civility. I have noticed a number of personal attacks here and one person repetitively doing the lions share. This spoils the enjoyment that I see when others are truly expressing an honest opinion. Perhaps the moderator can review the comments again. Thanks.
We were invited to the Farrell’s grand opening preview in Mission Viejo last night and watched as they rang the bell, blasted the siren and brought out “The Zoo” ice cream extravaganza on a stretcher carried by 2 men with handlebar mustaches. How many of us remember that? I also got to meet Bob Farrell, the founder, who said that they’re coming back across the country. Farrell still lives in Oregon where the first restaurants were built.. Quite an honor meeting the man responsible for some of my best birthday parties ever. I ordered the Single Gastronomicaldelicatessinerpicurean;’s Delight sandwich (incredible) and my wife ordered one of their classic burgers served on an onion bun, just like in the old days. Both came with a serving of their peppered fries. We each wanted to have one of their signature sundaes but settled on sharing a Banana Split. It was delicious and I had a kidlike grin on my face from the moment I arrived until the second I left. Mr. Farrell went around to every table. When he came to ours, I told him how his book “Give Em A Pickle” was an influence on me. - http://www.giveemapickle.com . Bob took photos with families, took photos, and in a quiet moment, enjoyed an ice cream cone by himself next to the Sundae counter. The Candy Store is off to the side from the front register instead of surrounding it like a gantlet, but as far as I could tell, this was a 100% authentic Farrell’s experience just as I remembered it in the early 70s of my youth. I recommend heartily.
Great to hear! Thank you so much for sharing!
thanks Brett for the review! I will be going, but not for a few weeks; let the crowds die down - a little.
Wow what a negative bunch on a beautiful Monday morning. So sad. i remember the Zoo. Great place to go for fun, food, and lots of laughs. GOOD LUCK FARRELLS.
When I was in high school I worked at the one in Downey. My first day we had a party of some 100+ kids, it was a madhouse.
Later on Farrell’s got purchased by Marriott and that’s where it started to go downhill.
Hope they open one up here in north OC!
I hear Farrell’s is looking into a Anaheim Hills location……….
People! Why so much hate?! If you don’t want to go there or it doesn’t look like the Farrell’s you remember, who cares?! We are all much older from the last time we walked out of that Farrell’s (we enjoyed going to) with a full stomach of ice cream, bananas, hot fudge and nuts! Like me, I will go and get something big and messy and enjoy it. And if it’s what I remember from the 80’s great…if not, no big deal! I can’t wait!
The only thing better than Farrell’s is the Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Can’t people just be happy about a new fun place to take our kids, that also reminds us of our own childhood?
This place sounds like fun. My kids will love it. I can’t wait to go.
By the way, what is the fascination with it having to be exactly like it was 30 years ago. Has anyone thought that they could have actually made it nicer than how it was years ago. I’m sure none of the complainers still have the interior of their house painted brady bunch green.
I’ll be there with my husband, my kids, and their bffs!
I love ice cream! Yummy!
I LOVE to pigg-out on ice cream. I am going to be the first one at Farrells so everyone else better line up behind me. I’m bringing some home for my bird also. I am going to be as big as a house before long - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Marie will probably be there every night eating feeding her HUGE arse!!! You can tell she has been lonely her whole life because she is always on here being Queen “Female Dog”! Her mother probably took one look at her and threw her in the trash while her father tried to throw some gas a match in after! I picture Marie coming home from work all in a mood because every one that comes in contact with her cant stand her so then she takes her FAT self out on the key board trying to tick other people off by making her pointless comments…talk about classic signs of never receiving attention…I bet she has been turned down smacked around and thrown to the gutter her whole life, and it shows! MARIE do us all a favor and stay off this .com because NO BODY wants you here either, and you are probably used to that by now.
HEY DUDE- GO ON A WEBSITE THAT YOU SHOULD BE ON-LIKE DUDE LOOKS LIKE A LADY!!!
YOU NEED HEAVY DUTY HELP IN THE HEAD.
WHAT EVER SCREW THAT IS LOOSE, GET THAT THING TIGHTENED UP!!!
DON’T COME ON THIS WEBSITE AGAIN!!!
IF YOU DO, WE KNOW YOU MUST HAVE BEEN WANTING TO SAY ALL THAT NASTY CRAP TO YOURSELF FOR A MIGHTY LONG TIME.
OH-AND DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET OFF THOSE DRUGS AND GET A JOB.
I CAN’T WAIT TO GO WITH MY 10 YEAR OLD AND 7 YEAR OLD KIDS.
I TOLD THEM ALL ABOUT IT. MY FIRST JOB WAS A FOUNTAIN GIRL THERE. [JUST YESTERDAY OPRAH HAD ON HER FIRST JOB SHOW] I REMEMBER HOW WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT THE FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE WAS. THERE WAS A LINE OUT THE DOOR. ONE MANAGER WAS A MARATHON RUNNER AND WOULD TRY TO RUN THE ZOO AS FAST AS HE COULD. HE LOVED IT WHEN SOMEONE RAN OUT ON THEIR BILL SO HE COULD RUN OUT AND CATCH THEM. THAT WAS 28 YEARS AGO IN MONTCLAIRE CALIFORNIA.
I Wasn’t done. One time while waitressing, I slipped while holding a pot of coffee and did a split, my pot of coffe was poured on top of my head.
it’s a good thing i had on my cute farrells hat to save me.
I just kept right on working with coffee all over me. The best part of all was my family was ther to see the whole thing.
OMG!!! I just saw on the news there going to open a Farrell’s Ice cream Parlour in Portland, Oregon. I’m 49 but some of my best Birthdays I had at Farrell’s here in Portland in the 60’s and 70’s, It was a sad day when they closed it. Sure now you have chucky cheese but I would rather go to Farrell’s I think there going to do very well.
Thanks Farrell’s