No, Shakey’s and Farrell’s aren’t actually returning to Montgomery County. But for a brief moment, it felt like MoCo had collectively time-traveled.
Signs popped up around North Kensington claiming that Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour and Shakey’s Pizza Parlor were “returning,” and the reaction was immediate and overwhelming. The signs, posted at the busy intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road and extending down both streets around Wheaton Mall, sparked waves of excitement, disbelief, joy, and cautious optimism across social media.
Then came the reveal. The signs were a prank by local satire site The Montgonion. While the announcement wasn’t real, the response absolutely was. The sheer volume of comments, shares, and emotional reactions made one thing clear… decades after closing, Shakey’s and Farrell’s still hold a special place in the hearts of MoCo residents.
For many longtime locals, the two restaurants represent the golden era of family dining in Montgomery County. From the 1960s through the early 1980s, they were go-to destinations for birthday parties, team celebrations, and family nights out, especially along Rockville Pike.
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor was an experience as much as it was a meal. Known for its “Ye Public House” theme, Shakey’s blended a 1920s ragtime aesthetic with a loud, joyful, family-friendly pizza parlor atmosphere. Many say the most iconic Montgomery County location sat on Rockville Pike with additional locations in Gaithersburg and Takoma Park on New Hampshire Avenue.
Kids could watch dough being tossed through a large glass window while player pianos filled the room with music. Long wooden picnic tables encouraged communal dining, banjo players often performed live, and silent films like Laurel and Hardy played on the walls. Straw boater hats were part of the fun, parents could enjoy a beer, and the whole place leaned into controlled chaos.
The food was simple but unforgettable. Thin-crust pizza and Mojo Potatoes, thick-cut, breaded potato slices, became legendary among locals and are still referenced wistfully today.
If Shakey’s was the pizza party, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour was the ultimate birthday destination. Montgomery County had two major Farrell’s locations, one on Rockville Pike near Congressional Plaza and another at Wheaton Plaza, now Westfield Wheaton. Farrell’s was loud, theatrical, and unapologetically over the top. The highlight of any visit was the delivery of “The Zoo,” a massive sundae carried on a stretcher by two servers sprinting through the restaurant while sirens blared and drums banged.
There were rituals, too. Finish a Pig Trough, a giant banana split, and you earned a ribbon proudly declaring, “I made a pig of myself at Farrell’s.” For kids, it was the kind of place that felt magical. For parents, it was a guaranteed win.
There’s also a uniquely local connection to Farrell’s history. The Marriott Corporation, headquartered in Bethesda, purchased the Farrell’s chain in 1972, fueling its nationwide expansion throughout the decade and further cementing its place in Montgomery County lore.
Both chains began disappearing from the area in the mid-to-late 1980s. Shakey’s struggled as the pizza industry shifted toward delivery-focused chains like Domino’s and Pizza Hut, making the labor-intensive “dinner and a show” model harder to sustain. Farrell’s declined after Marriott sold the chain in the early 1980s, when new owners tried to modernize the menu and tone, stripping away the old-fashioned candy-shop charm that made it special in the first place.
The Montgonion’s prank may have been short-lived, but the emotional response was telling. Comments ranged from joyful disbelief to outright heartbreak when people realized it wasn’t real. Many shared personal stories about birthdays, little league celebrations, and family traditions tied to both restaurants.
In the end, the signs didn’t announce a comeback, but they did something almost as powerful. They reminded Montgomery County just how deeply these places are missed, and how strong nostalgia can be when a community shares the same memories. For a few hours, MoCo believed again. And judging by the reaction, a lot of people would line up instantly if those doors ever really did reopen.
