Gone But Never Forgotten: 20 Maine Mall Eateries That We Miss the Most

Let’s be honest: the best thing about shopping at the mall is experiencing one of America’s greatest innovations, the food court.

There’s nothing like having numerous options right at your fingertips. You might even visit a few different spots to really mix up the dining experience.

“Why yes, I would love to have a slice of pizza with a side of dumplings and an Italian sandwich.” It’s just so beautiful.

The Maine Mall Has Been a Popular Destination Since Opening in the 1970s

We’ve been lucky here in Southern Maine because our mall’s food court has always been pretty darn solid. Of course, I’m talking about the Maine Mall—the giant shopping center in South Portland. It’s been a fixture in the community ever since it opened in 1971.

The Maine Mall has seen many stores come and go over the years. Some have been successful, while others have sadly disappeared.

The same can be said for the mall’s food options—and believe me, there have been many over the years. Even before the 1994 food court renovation, the mall was loaded with tasty choices. Some of those stuck around, while others weren’t so fortunate.

Even the mall’s newer options and national chains haven’t been able to avoid the chopping block. I guess that’s just the price of doing business.

What Maine Mall Restaurants that Have Closed do People Miss the Most?

With food on our minds, we decided to put the question out to our great listeners to find out which restaurants, cafés, pizza joints, ice cream parlors, and other food spots Mainers miss most from the mall. We wanted to know which places people are still reminiscing about—or wish could still be found in the halls of the Maine Mall.

READ MORE: 14 Maine Restaurants Once Featured on TV That Have Sadly Closed

Below is a list of 20 of the most popular answers we received. How many of these do you remember? Which ones do you wish were still there?