The last Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour has sadly closed for good. Its final location in Brea, CA was the sole survivor from the 2009 revival of the chain. The ice cream favorite was founded in 1963 in Portland, OR and became the most popular site for children’s parties by the 1970s. The parlor was known for its huge concoctions of ice cream dishes.
The locations in the Bay Area included Serramonte Center in Daly City, Eastridge Mall in San Jose, the Alpha Beta center (Fremont & Mary) in Sunnyvale, and Fremont Fashion Center (now Gateway Plaza) in Fremont.
Background about the popular ’70s ice cream parlour
While the last location’s Facebook page does not say anything about the closing, phone calls to the restaurant remain unanswered. Furthermore, attempts to leave a message are met with a “mailbox full” response.
As previously mentioned, the place was a pretty happening spot by the 1970s. The chain had more than 50 operating restaurants on the west coast by 1970. It was acquired by Marriott in 1971, and it grew to more than 130 locations worldwide! However, the chain was sold to a San Francisco investment group in 1988 and by 1990, most locations had closed. They had their run.
The last original location in Portland, OR closed in 2006. Then came a revival of the chain in 2009 by Lake Forest-based Parlour Enterprises Inc. It prompted the revival of seven locations. A separate company also had eight fully-operating Farrell’s in Hawaii, but all of them closed down by 2016.
Entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis, host of CNBC’S reality business show The Profit, still owns the brand. He hasn’t given up on hope just yet for Farrell’s. “I’ll hold onto it until I find another opportunity, even a smaller concept like a quick serve, and trademark it,” he says. “I’ll put it on the shelf and wait for the right window.”
There is no specific reason for Farrell’s closing for good, but we hope to see it make a comeback soon! The official website for Brea has officially been taken down, meaning that the final Farrell’s is definitely gone for good, despite no official notice. Do you remember the first time you enjoyed some Farrell’s ice cream?
Take a look at this vintage commercial for Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour from the early ’80s!
I’ve got 2 of the giant Coke glasses
That’s a shame they’re gone. I have a lot of great memories at least. The presentations at birthday parties were amazing and brought huge smiles to everyone in the restaurant. The burgers were really good too. Thanks for the memories Farrell’s.
Check your research. Still open on beach bl and
in hawaii
Where do you live peter, i pass by the beach blvd location and they already have the next restaurant sign up. Its definitely closed.
I used to go to the one over in Golden Ring Mall in Baltimore Maryland. They were the best ice cream parlor I’ve ever been to. I will miss them so much along with the 80s!
“However, the chain was sold to a San Francisco investment group in 1988 and by 1990, most locations had closed.” Basically, whenever a company is sold to an “investment group”, they are going to gut it of all the cash and then run that sucker into the ground so the only thing left is the memories.
I was a waitress at the San Mateo, Ca. restaurant, starting in 1974, during my Senior year in High School and for awhile after that. It was there that I met some lifelong friends, including my absolute BEST friend, still to this day! Ohhh my, the stories we could tell!! I must say that we certainly worked our butts off for a very measly wage at the time – I remember the starting wage for a waitress then was $1.35 an hour plus tips. Even the tips weren’t the greatest, but they put gas in our cars, and financed the most epic of concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area that many could not even imagine, and just as many are envious of us to this day! We would sometimes attend more than 3 concerts a WEEK! My fellow friendly Farrell’s buddies and I certainly knew how to have Parties after work, as well! It was nothing for the Restaurant to close at 1:00 am, we’d get clean up done by 2:00 am, head to our favorite party house, crank up the music, and literally dance until dawn. Ohhh, Farrells, you Beautiful, Wonderful, Place!! You had no idea that you would leave such and indelible mark on some of us. You brought people together who shared your mission, taught us good work ethics, the value of money and hard work, you brought so much happiness and fun to not only your customers, but to your employees, as well! If you MUST fade into the twilight, please know that EVERYTHING you DID, you DID IT VERY, VERY, VERY WELL!!!