Although the modern food court idea was first introduced in the United States in the early 1900s, it wasn't until the 1970s that it gained widespread acceptance. James K. M. Cheng, a Canadian real estate developer who designed and constructed the Pacific Centre mall in Vancouver, Canada, in 1971, is generally recognized as having created the first modern food court. A central atrium in the mall contained a number of food vendors, enabling customers to get a quick snack without leaving the building. The idea gained popularity rapidly, and today food courts are commonplace in shopping malls and other public places all over the world.