Why Isn’t There a Standalone Panda Express Outside of the Maine Mall?

Everyone knows that the people of Maine absolutely love Chinese food. Not only that, the people of Maine are pretty passionate about what Chinese food places they think are the best. While there a ton of mom and pop Chinese restaurants throughout the state, there's one national chain that remains king in Southern Maine.

That would be Panda Express, which has been a staple of the Maine Mall food court for years. And over the course of many years, that Panda Express location has seemingly become more popular. It's so popular, in fact, that you could argue Panda Express is the most desired location by people visiting the Maine Mall.

It's not an exaggeration. In the height of the busy season at the Maine Mall, the line for Panda Express can rival a handful of attractions at Disney World. People have waited 45 minutes to get their hands on a plate of orange chicken. Even on days when the mall isn't particularly jammed, the line for Panda Express still exists.

It only stands to reason that at some point, a wise entrepreneur will realize that the popularity of Panda Express isn't just tied to the fact that it exists inside the Maine Mall. It remains completely surprising that the only Panda Express location in Maine is inside the mall, while other states (including many in New England) have standalone Panda Express locations.

As more retail developments take shape in places like Scarborough and Westbrook, it seems inevitable that there will be a Panda Express location outside of the Maine Mall at some point. And then there will be orange chicken for everyone.