The last Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour has closed in Brea and that is apparently the end of the chain for now. The Buena Park store closed in December even after an attempt by Marcus Lemonis to save it failed to turn a profit. The host of CNBC’S reality business show “The Profit” spent months shooting there in 2016. The Brea store was privately owned by a group of investors.

The scoop-heavy treats, singing waiters, train whistles and faux Tiffany lamps seemed completely dated in the age of liquid nitrogen and gourmet vegan ice cream but Farrell’s had its fans to the end.

Farewell comments began appearing on Facebook on Saturday, June 8. They ranged from “Farrell’s in Brea is closed. So sad… It was so much fun. It is going to be missed. Tonight I drove by all the lights are out. People were standing at the door trying to see in, I think they were hoping for some of their favorite Ice Cream” to “I still have a coupon to use … darn it!”

In 2016 at the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Buena Park, now owned by self-made millionaire Marcus Lemonis, left, of the “The Profit” on CNBC talks to Travis Lee, Farrell’s Director of Operations, second from left. Farrell’s will be featured in the business rescue revival series during the Season 4 premiere. (Photo by Nicole Weingart/CNBC)

In 2015 Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour server Michael Bunkley delivers a tray full of ice cream creations. (File Photo by Sam Gangwer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Marcus Wallace is at your service at Buena Park’s Farrell’s on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. The server and a crew of other young fresh faced employees opens the door and greets friends and family. (File Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Children belly up to the (candy) bar to learn how to make their own cherry hand pulled lollipop at Farrell’s in Buena Park one day before it reopens to the public during a friends and family soft opening on Thurs., Aug. 17, 2017. (File Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In 2013, with the stop-watch over his shoulder, Jonathon Jabbour works on his dish of ice cream at Farrell’s Ice Cream Eating Championships in Brea. (File Photo by Michael Goulding, Orange County Register/SCNG)



In 2015 Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour servers Daniel Chavez, left, and Michael Bunkley, right, sing a birthday song. (File Photo by Sam Gangwer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In August, 2017 Naideen Ramirez, 1, of Buena Park bounces after every bite as she shares a Triple Chocolate Brownie Sundae with mom Leti Moreno at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour which had a soft opening for friends and family on Thurs., Aug. 17. (File Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Manager Jordan Fisher carries out “The Zoo” at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Riverside on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (File Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A molten mixture of corn syrup, water and sugar is poured out and then pulled to make cherry hand pulled lollipops at Farrell’s in Buena Park one day before it reopens to the public in 2017. (File Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Travis Lee, director of operations for Farrell’s USA, and investor Marcus Lemonis, tour Farrell’s Buena Park restaurant in an episode of CNBC’s “The Profit.” (Photo courtesy CNBC)



Customers dine in at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Riverside on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (File Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Fountain server Brooke King places a cherry on top of a Oreo Bliss ice cream sundae at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Riverside on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (File Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

In 2016 at the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Buena Park, now owned by self-made millionaire Marcus Lemonis of the “The Profit” on CNBC talks to Travis Lee, Farrell’s Director of Operations. Farrell’s will be featured in the business rescue revival series during the Season 4 premiere. (Photo by Nicole Weingart/CNBC)

Although the website and FaceBook page say nothing about the closure, phone calls to the restaurant were unanswered and attempts to leave messages were met with a “mailbox full” recorded message.

According to its website, Farrell’s was founded by Robert Farrell in Portland, Oregon, in 1963 and by 1970 he operated more than 50 restaurants in the West. Acquired by Marriott Corporation in 1971, it grew to more than 130 locations nationwide. It was sold to a San Francisco investment group in 1988, but most locations had closed by 1990.

In 2009, Lake Forest-based Parlour Enterprises, Inc. revived the company and operated seven shops, mostly in Southern California with locations in Mission Viejo, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, and one in Sacramento, hoping to expand nationally. Buena Park’s Farrell’s was owned by Parlour Enterprises when Lemonis initially attempted to rescue it.

Lemonis still owns the brand and concept. In a January interview on the closure of the Buena Park store, he said he might retool the brand when the time is right. “I’ll hold onto it until I find another opportunity, even a smaller concept like a quick serve, and trademark it,” he said. “I’ll put it on the shelf and wait for the right window.”