"The moment you sense the intoxicating aroma of a corn dog at a fair, you're making a beeline to the nearest vendor - in fact, you may have been anticipating the first delicious bite of a corn dog for days before attending the fair. In the 1970s, one family dared to dream: What if that magical snack experience didn't have to be a once-a-year-or-so occasion? When Corn Dog 7 opened in 1978, it brought fried fair food to malls and everyday life."
"Sadly, Corn Dog 7 is one of the mall food court chains that quietly vanished over time. Dozens of locations have dwindled down to just three. There are two in Laurel, Mississippi and one in Houma, Louisiana. One of those Laurel locations is cause for cheer, though: It opened in the summer of 2025. It is also a standalone spot, while the other two locations are in malls."
Corn Dog 7 launched in 1978 to bring fried fair food, particularly corn dogs, into malls and everyday life. The chain expanded through the late 1970s and 1980s but declined as customers sought healthier choices, reducing to three remaining locations. Two locations sit in Laurel, Mississippi, and one in Houma, Louisiana. A new standalone Corn Dog 7 opened in Laurel in summer 2025, with co-founder Betty McKinney present. The chain was founded by L Ray and Stephen McKinney alongside Bill Clark, and the "7" denotes the number of people in the McKinney family. Fans across multiple states recall the dogs and fries with nostalgia.
Read at Tasting Table
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