Home of Carolina Circle Mall
It All Comes Together Again
Introduction
Piccadilly Cafeteria
The Interior of the former Carolina Circle Mall Piccadilly Cafeteria in 2005
In November of 1976, the Piccadilly Cafeteria opened in the Carolina Circle Mall across from the Circle Six Theatres.
For over 20 years, Greensboro had two Piccadilly Cafeterias. There was one at Carolina Circle Mall and one at Four Seasons Mall. Today, we'll be taking a look at the Carolina Circle Mall one. For the Four Seasons one, visit Four Seasons City. Not!
I believe this particular Piccadilly Cafeteria doubled as the set for the Old Rebel Show for one day sometime around 1979.
In the '90s, I went to the Piccadilly Cafeteria fairly regularly. My parents never really cared for it, but we went anyway. They were similar to K&W Cafeteria, but their food had a certain taste to it that K&W didn't have. Also, I never went to the one at Four Seasons.
On July 31, 1996, Piccadilly Cafeteria went out of business leaving a huge empty space in the mall. It was the longest lasting dine-in restaurant the mall ever had. Since the Four Seasons Piccadilly Cafeteria closed in the late '90s, most of North Carolina hasn't had a Piccadilly since.
I had the chance to revisit Piccadilly Cafeteria once. In May of 2001, I went with the 5th grade of Madison Elementary School to Williamsburg, Virgina. We had dinner at the Piccadilly Cafeteria in Williamsburg. It was awesome.
For some reason, Piccadilly Cafeteria has given me dreams and nightmares over the years. The most recent one was from a few months ago. I went to Piccadilly Cafeteria somewhere and had a meal. When I got back home, I told someone about my meal. Suddenly, my backpack attacked me and I woke up shaking and sweating. Because I'm writing about Piccadilly Cafeteria, I'll probably have another nightmare tonight. The things I do for my website.
Monk's Cheesesteaks & Cheeseburgers
In 1990, the legendary Monk's Cheesesteaks & Cheeseburgers opened in the Carolina Circle Mall Food Court. It was to the right side of Circle Cafe & Deli/Subs & Spuds.
In my opinion, it was probably the most successful restaurant at the Food Court. For seven years, they served a wonderful menu full of many items. They specialized in cheeseburgers and cheesesteaks, hence the name.
I rarely went there. Probably only 4 or 5 times. Usually when I ate at Carolina Circle, it would be either at Circle Cafe & Deli/Subs & Spuds or Piccadilly Cafeteria. I remember it seemed sort of like a diner. It had a black and white tiled floor with a jukebox. I think it even had a video game or two.
They also had an ice cream shop attached to it. I went there a lot. I would always get a vanilla ice cream cone with a cherry on top.
By the second half of 1995, the mall began it's major slide into decline. In June of 1997, Monk's went out of business. This might have been a major factor in killing the Food Court.
Does the story end there? Nope. In 2006, Monk's reopened at the Northeast Summit Shopping Center. Same great menu. I agree. They do had great burgers. And they were pretty cheep. Also, their menu board inside showed some respect to its past by saying, "Formarly of Carolina Circle Mall 1990-1997". It unfortunately closed in November 2006.