Need a word for this.

[Bamagan]

I'm going to half-sarcastically suggest alcove, niche, or nook, mostly because of a similar @NuclearFairy thread not too long ago.

Sarcasm aside, though, The Cookie Nook is a somewhat pleasing name, and lends itself to certain jokes. "I'm gonna go to mall and get some sweet Nookies!"

 

[AStrangeDesire]

What about stall? I think, counter or stall might be equally accurate though.

^ this

 

[anthrodisiac]

I think we're overlooking the obvious. Prof's wife suggested storefront. He should go with that. Happy wife...

But it really should be stall.

 

[PennyThompson]

A walk-up, maybe? Storefront with counter service?

 

[TheLobster]

@old_prof You should've specified you want an American word, since I'm pretty sure some of the suggestions here are more British.

I wouldn't call it kiosk if the counter is built into a large wall, like in a mall. I think you really need to see the entire shape of the thing (the "box") to call it a kiosk.

Stall, in a commercial sense, is a delineated, fixed spot when something is exhibited to be sold. It would be a stall if the cookies were presented on an open table or something, and a nice smiling lady would be inviting you to have a bite and buy some.

Cart requires wheels somewhere. Storefront is the front part of a store you can walk into. Compounds like "storefront with counter service" work but they feel a bit stilted and formal; "counter" alone is too vague, and implies just one counter among many, probably inside a bigger establishment.

So, given all that, the best term to use is cookie stand. Or well, at least that's where I stand.

In practice, if it was in a story, you'd just have the characters call it a cookie place, spare a sentence or two to describe how it looks, and later just use its proper brand name or something (which might be "that cookie place", of course).

 

[XerXesXu]

@old_prof You should've specified you want an American word, since I'm pretty sure some of the suggestions here are more British.

The British describe it as a 'market stall', whether it's indoors or out, after the stalls set up on market days. These were the official trading days when property could be transferred without written evidence of the transfer of title - market overt. Now 'stall' alone is short for 'market stall'.

 

[Boat1]

I vote with those who called it a "Cookie Stand."

 

[Writer61]

"Hole in the wall"

Staffordshire oatcakes were traditionally sold from the window of a house (I can remember doing this). The last place that worked this way was actually called "The Hole in the Wall".

 

[nice90sguy]

Staffordshire oatcakes

"Midland Crépes"... my daily breakfast..

 

[BobbyBrandt]

In my area, the mall has stalls, but these are the same as the free-standing kiosks that most are familiar with. There are "nooks" in the food court and a few other areas of the mall where things like the OP is describing are sold.

Often, these are sublets of a larger space rented by another tenant who doesn't require the full space that they are being charged for.

 

[Lumiere_Amie]

Perhaps the term you are looking for is concession stand. In America, those are generally just a counter where you order and are served. You are expected to walk away with your food and either leave the area (carry it elsewhere to eat), or find a nearby seat if provided. They generally have a very limited menu, often just a couple of items (a cookie and a drink). The menu size is what distinguishes them from a Counter Service Restaurant, such as American fast food restaurants. Both can be found in American Malls.
One might go to the cookie concessionaire for a chocolate chip cookie and a milk.

 

[Writer61]

"Midland Crépes"... my daily breakfast..

I am jealous.

 

[AG31]

Two pages in less than 24 hours on this question. I love this place!

 

[AlexBailey]

If it was a window stall built into the wall, I think I’d have to go with “the pretzel counter at the food court.”

If it was a freestanding booth it would be “the pretzel vendor kiosk.”

 

[SatansFavouritePet]

Das ist ein Brezelkiosk.

 

[Writer61]

Perhaps the term you are looking for is concession stand. In America,

A concession means that you are renting the brand (e.g., McDonald's). It tells you nothing about the size or service method.

 

[TheLobster]

A concession means that you are renting the brand (e.g., McDonald's). It tells you nothing about the size or service method.

It also means that if you're buying any food from such a stand, you're usually making a massive concession when it comes to your future health.

 

[ChuckWolf]

Pretzel stand.

I think this is the best choice.

Maybe "Pretzel stand (no seating)"

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Stall or stand. I was going to say booth, but booth implies a more open kiosk. A stand makes the most sense. Even in Spanish; I've seen street markets popping up from neighbors organizations and nonprofits, and conventions that go from geek conventions all the way up to car conventions always offer up a space to rent a stand, which is what you're describing.

 

[Britva415]

A concession means that you are renting the brand (e.g., McDonald's)

A concession isn't a franchise. I mean, it could be, but being a franchise isn't what makes it a concession. What "concession" means is that someone is operating the hospitality under a contract to a different operator who runs the overall facility.

The Cinnabon at the airport is a good example. It's both a franchise and a concession. Concessions are like when the food vendors at a sports arena are independent businesses from the arena or the team, or when restaurants and hotels in national parks are independent businesses separate from the National Park Service.

The word "concession" describes the contractual relationship which grants the concessionaire access and (often) exclusivity to operate on the property. They aren't just renting space like any other commercial real estate. They also have a contractual obligation to the grantor to provide the hospitality service, and that contract usually stipulates certain things about how that service is to be offered or delivered or priced.

The other thing is that concession contracts tend to be competitive and exclusive. There is often one concessionaire business which might run the many, various counters at a sports arena, for example. And there is one concessionaire who runs all of the variously branded hotels, restaurants and stores within Yosemite, for example.

On topic, there are a lot of concession stalls but the word "concession" doesn't really say anything about whether it's a stand-up stall or a walk-in shop or a whole-ass sit-down restaurant. "Stall" is the word that's doing that. And I think it's the right word for this question, whether it's a concession or not.

 

[Writer61]

A concession isn't a franchise. I mean, it could be, but being a franchise isn't what makes it a concession. What "concession" means is that someone is operating the hospitality under a contract to a different operator who runs the overall facility.

Thanks for the correction.

So, in the OP's example,

• it IS a concession because it's located in a mall
• it MAY be a franchise (we don't have enough information)

Neither of which describes the nature of the venue.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Search "mall food court shops" and you'll find lots of pictures of places including S'Barro, but I don't see a certain terms used for them.

 

[Britva415]

in the OP's example,

• it IS a concession because it's located in a mall

Possibly? In a mall, it could just be regular-old retail.

 

[Writer61]

Possibly? In a mall, it could just be regular-old retail.

Hang on, you just said:

What "concession" means is that someone is operating the hospitality under a contract to a different operator who runs the overall facility.

Any outlet in a mall, whatever it sells, is a concession.

 

[Britva415]

Any outlet in a mall, whatever it sells, is a concession.

I expanded my original post to further explain how a concession is not like regular-old retail.

Being in a mall doesn't mean it's not concession, and it doesn't mean it is. It depends on the mall, but I think most of them are regular-old retail landlords. You want space, we have space, go ahead and rent it and run your business in there as you see fit. No other stipulations and no competitive application process.