A food court which can't accommodate demand at lunchtime isn't going to function at its maximum potential if diners can't find a place to sit down. This food court is small. There's tremendous demand and a waiting list. National chain operators tend to succeed in the highly competitive food courts because of name recognition. It's a tough marketplace for ill-prepared local franchise operators, regional food vendors or independent entrepreneurs.
People establish a comfort level with certain retailers.
Familiarity lends itself to people going back to a product. Taken as a whole, food courts act as anchor tenants in most malls, becoming destination magnets particularly at lunchtime. But there's incredible demand from food court operators who want to go into the center. But we would rather have a more traditional retailer there. Meanwhile, Ruby Tuesday's will become a Mozzarella's Cafe, and the two Cobb Theaters at the front of the mall will be replaced by a restaurant.