#mall-food-courts

#mall-food-courts

The pioneer of the mall pretzel was Hot Sam Pretzels, but now it's little more than a piece of nostalgic trivia. When it comes to mall pretzels, Hot Sam was the trendsetter. Founded in 1967, the chain offered mallgoers plain pretzels, ones with mustard, or sweet cinnamon sugar-covered versions for a quick snack on the go. By the 1980s, they also came with savory toppings like cheddar, nacho, or cream cheese, and sweet option additions like hot fudge and strawberries.

That's right, long before there was Crumbl or Insomnia Cookies, there was an aptly named spot called The Original Cookie Company. The Original Cookie Company was one of the top American cookie chains in the 1970s, and like its more modern counterparts, it was mainly located in malls. The stores sold five to six varieties of gourmet cookies at any one time, and they were also known for their giant 12-inch cookies.