Looking to expand your poke brand but unsure where to set up shop? You’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced and competitive food industry, the right location isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a make-or-break factor. One of the best-kept secrets for growing a poke brand is utilizing mall franchise opportunities.

That’s right—shopping malls aren’t just about clothes and gadgets anymore. They’ve transformed into bustling lifestyle centers where people come to eat, socialize, relax, and spend time (and money). Malls today offer the ideal environment for fast-casual restaurant franchises like poke bowl concepts to thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore why poke franchise locations in shopping malls can be a game-changer, the benefits of mall food courts, and how to overcome challenges to grow your brand strategically.

Why Consider Mall Franchise Opportunities for Your Poke Brand?

Built-In Foot Traffic

One of the biggest advantages of shopping mall food concepts is the steady stream of foot traffic. Malls attract diverse crowds throughout the day:

Weekends: Packed with families, teens, and tourists.
Weekdays: Office workers, shoppers, and errand-runners.
Evenings: Visitors looking to grab a bite before or after shopping or entertainment.

This steady flow of potential customers means your poke bowl business benefits from a ready-made audience. Unlike standalone locations that rely heavily on street visibility and marketing dollars to attract customers, mall-based restaurants tap into foot traffic that’s already there.

This reduces customer acquisition costs, allowing you to focus on providing exceptional food, top-notch service, and increasing sales per ticket.

Demographics That Match Your Ideal Customer Base

Malls attract a diverse group of people, including:

Teens grabbing boba milk tea or dessert.
Health-conscious professionals looking for quick, customizable meals.
Families spending quality time together.

This wide range of visitors aligns perfectly with the customer profile for poke bowls. Fresh, healthy, and customizable, poke bowls appeal to vegetarians, seafood lovers, and the foodie crowd alike.

Successful brands like Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar take it a step further by diversifying their menu to include complementary items like boba teas, fully cooked hot rice bowls, and desserts. Offering this variety not only increases ticket averages but also ensures you’re appealing to every demographic walking through the mall.

Proximity to Complementary Businesses

Today’s malls are more than just retail spaces—they’re experience-driven lifestyle centers. Fitness centers, co-working spaces, wellness studios, and entertainment hubs are all part of the mix.

For a poke franchise location, being near these complementary businesses is a strategic advantage. Imagine gym-goers finishing a workout and craving a fresh, protein-packed meal, or families grabbing a poke bowl before heading to the movies.

This synergy between businesses creates cross-promotional opportunities, something standalone locations can't match.

Flexible Footprint, Scalable Model

One of the biggest benefits of mall food courts is the flexibility they offer. Poke franchises can adapt to a variety of spaces, including:

Full dine-in restaurants.
Compact food court counters.
Grab-and-go kiosks.

This scalability makes it easier to test markets with smaller footprints before committing to larger spaces. Flexible models also minimize overhead, allowing your poke bowl business to expand strategically.

Key Challenges of Mall Franchise Opportunities (And How to Overcome Them)

Lease Terms and Costs

Mall leases can be complex, with rent structures often determined by factors like the square footage of your space, its location within the mall, and how close it is to high-traffic anchor tenants such as department stores or entertainment venues.

In addition to base rent, you’ll likely encounter Common Area Maintenance (CAM) fees, which cover the upkeep of shared spaces like hallways, restrooms, and parking areas. Some malls also implement sales-based rent agreements, where you pay a percentage of your revenue after reaching a specific sales threshold.

To navigate these terms effectively, view your lease as a mutually beneficial partnership. Malls benefit from your success since your sales contribute to their overall profitability. Negotiating strategically is key to securing terms that work for your business, such as:

Short-Term Leases with Renewal Options: Start with a shorter lease to test the location’s viability and include options to renew if the location proves successful.
Reasonable CAM Fees: Understand exactly what these fees cover and negotiate to cap excessive costs or exclude unnecessary expenses.
Tenant Improvement Allowances (TIAs): Request financial assistance from the mall to help cover your build-out costs, such as interior design, equipment installation, or branding elements.

Traffic Volatility

While malls are known for steady foot traffic, external factors like economic downturns, seasonal shifts, or global events can lead to fluctuations in visitor numbers. These variations can directly impact your sales, making it essential to diversify your revenue streams to ensure stability even during slower periods.

Savvy brands like Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar reduce their reliance on in-person traffic by introducing additional channels, such as:

Online Ordering Platforms: Allow customers to order ahead for pickup, providing convenience and boosting sales.
Delivery Partnerships: Partner with platforms like DoorDash or Uber Eats to reach customers outside of the mall.
Catering Services: Offer catering options for local offices, events, or nearby businesses to generate sales from larger orders.

This approach ensures that even if mall foot traffic dips, your business can maintain consistent revenue streams and stay profitable.

Standing Out in the Food Court

Benefits of mall food courts — To make your poke franchise stand out, you need to focus on three key elements: simplicity and speed, visual branding, and menu versatility.

Competition in mall food courts is fierce, with big-name chains and other fast-casual brands vying for attention. To make your poke franchise stand out, you need to focus on three key elements:

Simplicity and Speed: Streamline your menu to make it easy for customers to choose quickly and ensure fast preparation times. A concise menu that highlights your best sellers, like signature poke bowls, can reduce decision fatigue and speed up service.
Visual Branding: Create a clean, modern, and visually striking design that reflects the freshness of your poke bowls. Use vibrant colors, high-quality imagery, and clear signage to make your counter or kiosk stand out in a crowded food court.
Menu Versatility: Offer options that appeal to a wide range of customers, such as customizable poke bowls for health-conscious eaters, hot rice bowls for comfort food lovers, and desserts or boba tea for impulse buyers. Having something for everyone ensures you can attract a broad audience.

By focusing on these areas, your franchise can capture attention, build a strong reputation, and thrive in even the most competitive food court environments.

Franchise Growth Strategies for Mall Expansion

Expanding your poke brand into malls offers incredible potential, but success depends on implementing the right franchise growth strategies. By carefully selecting the right mall, scaling your concept to fit different spaces, negotiating favorable lease terms, and leveraging available marketing opportunities, you can position your franchise for long-term growth in the competitive world of shopping mall food concepts.

1. Choose the Right Mall

Not all malls are created equal, and choosing the wrong one can significantly impact your sales and growth. Evaluate potential poke franchise locations based on the following factors:

Demographics: Does the mall’s customer base align with your target audience? Malls with a mix of health-conscious shoppers, families, and young professionals are ideal for your poke bowl business.
Anchor Tenants: Malls with popular anchors like grocery stores, gyms, or entertainment centers (e.g., movie theaters) tend to generate consistent foot traffic, which benefits fast-casual restaurant franchises like poke brands.
Occupancy Rates: High vacancy rates can indicate low traffic or declining popularity. Aim for malls with high occupancy and a vibrant mix of tenants.
Recent Investments: Malls undergoing renovations or revitalization projects signal growth potential, as they’re likely attracting new tenants and increasing traffic.

Partnering with a franchise consultant or commercial real estate expert can help you identify mall franchise opportunities that align with your brand’s goals and target market.

2. Flexible Footprint = Scalable Growth

One of the biggest benefits of mall food courts is the flexibility they offer in terms of space. Your poke concept should be designed to adapt to multiple layouts, so you can easily scale based on demand and available options.

Food Court Counters: Start with a compact, grab-and-go counter to test the market while keeping overhead low.
Full-Service Restaurants: If the location proves successful, you can expand into a larger dine-in space.
Kiosks or Pop-Ups: These smaller setups are perfect for minimizing upfront costs while building brand awareness in high-traffic areas.

This adaptability allows your poke bowl business to enter new markets without committing to large, expensive spaces upfront, making it easier to scale as your brand grows.

3. Negotiate Strong Lease Terms

The terms of your lease can make or break your profitability, especially in a mall environment where costs like rent and Common Area Maintenance (CAM) fees can add up quickly. Focus on securing terms that protect your bottom line:

Short Lease Terms to Test the Location: A shorter lease (e.g., 1–3 years) allows you to test the market without a long-term commitment.
Caps on Percentage Rent Agreements: If the mall requires sales-based rent, negotiate for caps to protect your profits during busy seasons.
Build-Out Incentives: Request Tenant Improvement Allowances (TIAs) from the mall to offset your startup costs, such as construction, equipment installation, and branding.

By negotiating strategically, you can ensure your mall franchise opportunities remain financially viable while leaving room for growth.

4. Leverage Mall Marketing Opportunities

Malls provide built-in marketing opportunities that can help you boost your brand visibility and attract more customers. Partner with mall management to take advantage of:

Holiday Festivals: Participate in events around Christmas, Halloween, and other holidays to attract seasonal shoppers.
Back-to-School Events: Offer promotions during high-traffic times like back-to-school shopping weekends.
Seasonal Sales Weekends: Collaborate with other mall tenants during Black Friday or spring sales to maximize exposure.

Additionally, enhance your efforts with geo-targeted ads and social media campaigns aimed specifically at mall visitors. Highlight your fast-casual restaurant franchise as a convenient, healthy option for shoppers.

Why Mall Franchise Opportunities Are Perfect for Growing Poke Brands

Shopping malls are no longer just retail hubs—they’re evolving into multi-use lifestyle centers. For fast-casual restaurant franchises, this evolution presents massive opportunities.

By positioning your poke bowl business in high-traffic mall locations, you gain access to diverse demographics, built-in foot traffic, and flexible spaces that can scale with your growth. When combined with strategic lease negotiations, operational efficiency, and a strong brand identity, malls offer an unparalleled platform for franchise growth strategies.

The question isn’t whether malls are viable for your brand—it’s whether you’re ready to take advantage of the opportunity before your competitors do.

Contact us today to learn more about franchising with Uncle Sharkii. Interesting in franchising with us? Check out the steps to ownership.

Why Shopping Malls Are a Smart Bet for Growing Your Poke Brand