It worked for Chick Fil A, who started off in suburban malls and didn’t open their first freestanding location until 1986. Malls are a relic of the ’80s and often depressing and empty I shouldn’t have to travel to a mall or an airport to enjoy these treats!
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I have to imagine that by this point, if it were financially viable to do so…they would have.
Why would this be an unpopular opinion?
There are some malls that are doing good today and the mall is making a comeback with Gen Z according to CNBC.
There’s absolutely no way aunti Anne or Cinnabon could maintain a stand alone place. Sbarro business model is minimalist and was competing against juggernauts like papa Gino’s and Pizza Hut (both of which you’re pretty hard pressed to find stand alone restaurants for now a days).
Chik fil a transitioned from malls to stand alone a in the 80s when real estate was still fairly cheap. None of the businesses you mentioned have the capital or the need to own free standing stores. In fact go to foods owns Cinnabon and auntie Anne’s and there business model is quite literally malls.
People still eat that garbage?
Not really unpopular, just not likely to succeed given the competition. Plus malls are clearly not relics.
Wait, you travel to the mall just to “enjoy” Sbarro and Auntie Anne’s, as opposed to everyone else who’s forced to eat them because they work in the mall and only have 30 minutes for lunch? That would indeed be a different business model.
There’s an Auntie Anne’s x Cinnabon store in the town over from me. Does pretty well
A lot of the ones you mentioned do have “freestanding” locations in strip mall and things that I have seen
Sbarro could probably work fine. It’s pizza, and going out for pizza is a norm. They could lean into the “by the slice” model and probably get a decent lunch crowd if the price is right.
Not so sure about Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon. They’re quick treats, not a meal. Their whole model is tempting people with good smelling treats as they walk by. For most people, it’s a spur of the moment choice. How often are people going to take a trip specifically for Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon? There would be people, sure, but it will always be far less profitable, especially considering they’d have to spend extra for an individual building and far less foot traffic. It may work if it was an individual location where foot traffic was heavy, like a popular outdoor strip mall or area near a beach.
Hell we even have an example of this with Dunkin Donuts. Donuts are a comparable treat to soft pretzels and Cinnabons. They’re a quick treat that’s not super filling. Their donuts were no longer enough to get people coming in, so they completely rebranded to focus more on their drinks.
It would make money likely, but why spend more money expanding into a less profitable area? They got a good system where they simply rent out small booths in places that are busy and have people walking by.
They have a free standing Sbarro a couple blocks from my house. It’s owned by an Italian guy. The food is pretty decent.
Both cinnabon and auntie annes rely directly on people smelling it as they pass bye and feeling hungry. Most people don’t like pretzels or cinnabuns enough to go to one specifically.
No one is gonna drive to an Auntie Anne’s or Conmabon. They work cause they went where the people already were
Maybe let’s let Sbarro die.
I’m 45. I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life where I thought ‘I’m hungry. I was i had Auntie Anne’s right now”.
Our mall might be dead but that damn auntie Anne’s is always packed lol
Sbarro is no Chic-Fil-A
I remember when I was a teenager our Walmart had an Auntie Ann’s for a few years. That’s the only one of those places I’ve ever seen outside of a mall. Not that I’ve been to a mall in the last 15 or 20 years either though lol.
Sbarro can just go out of business. Auntie Anne’s is already in my local Walmart.
My favorite New York slice!
While I don’t disagree with you, now I want some Auntie Anne’s pretzel bites.
Cinnabon couldn’t survive free-standing on their own, but they often do brand collaborations with other fast food chains like Taco Bell, Subway, and so on.
And there’s a sandwich chain called Schlotzsky’s, mostly in Texas, that also serve Cinnabon.
I don’t think Auntie Anne’s could survive free-standing either. But I live in a small city nowhere near a major metro area, and our mall, and it’s Auntie Anne’s is thriving. I wonder if there’s other areas like us that still have busy malls.
I think Sbarro could maybe do free-standing if they pick their spots carefully. Busy areas that don’t have a strong local pizza culture or many/any by-the-slice spots.
Move into the old Joann fabric or Big lots. Before spirit Halloween jumps in.
Plot twist: Cinnabon and Auntie Ann’s open dual locations with sugary sweet treats and do collabs. I’d visit 🤤
I like auntie annes but it has become outrageously priced.
No eats eats Sbarro on purpose….
What about rest stops? Same setup just a different location
Auntie Anne’s has a free standing store in our town combined with a jamba juice. The only one worse rated around is the one also freestanding a couple towns over. Ours never has any customers when I drive by or go there. They also never have anything made.
The nearby mall has 3 of them and there is always a line which goes quickly since they have stuff made.
I’m craving Sbarro now 😅 Thanks friend! ✨🌟😊
There is (or used to be?) a freestanding Sbarro’s in New York City
Sbarro just hits different in a mall. We have or had a stand alone one fairly close to me and it was not the same.
Lol, no. I’m more likely to go to them at the mall instead of their own store.
Always there right when you think you might want something
Besides, that would be more work for them. Lot costs, building costs, maintenance, rotating shifts, upper management, safety compared to…..one cart that always happens to be in the right place when you think you are craving something while window shopping
This is mainly towards Auntie Anne’s.
In my neighborhood there’s an auntie Anne’s truck that seems to be doing quite well.
Cinnabon and Auntie Annes would need to merge with something like Mrs Field’s and Jamba Juice to be viable. A sort-one stop treat shop.
They need to expand into grocery stores, stadiums and cafeterias.
But standalone shops would only work in neighborhoods with a ton of walking traffic (eg downtowns, piers, etc.)
They can thrive outside of malls, but they need to get creative
Sbarro does have some standalone locations, but they did recently close one of them here in Columbus. There are some locations inside Turkey Hill gas stations, though, and that seems to be a good compromise if you are trying to avoid the mall food court. You need gas anyway, right? Why not get a slice or two of pizza at the same time? Then as an added bonus, your drink can be anything from the Turkey Hill soda fountain. They also don’t charge $3 for the drink either.
They should lean into the gas station partnership or tag on a target
Had cinnabon 2 weeks ago for first time in probably 15 years.
Still bomb af
I’d def drive for a Cinnabon. Closest one to me currently is about 2 hrs
Auntie Anne’s is opening a standalone location in downtown chicago!