California Marketplace At Knott’s

I usually go to the shops before and after going to knotts. Sometimes I don’t buy anything but I just like to browse through the stores. One of the stores has a lot of Disney items and other items which I like. I like the candy store and get the salt water taffy. I also like the jams in the bakery. I always shop here rather then in the park so that I don’t have to carry around my things inside the park.

This place is special and not because its Orange County, but rather represents a Southern California a long time ago. Before theme parks, it was farmland. The other park close to this location was an orange grove. This place was a former Boysenberry location, but now a historic landmark. It may not seem like much, but it sure tries its best to be both a entertainment and cultural center for Buena Park. Visit California Marketplace at Knott’s Berry Farm.
Just outside of Knott’s Berry Farm and driving through Beach Blvd, you will see some cool gift shops and restaurants to dine at. There is free parking for an hour, but if you purchase at participating restaurant/​stores, you can be validated up to an additional two hours (Three Hours Total). There is many things to do without actually going into the theme park. Buena Park has a lot of history into it. If Knott’s Berry Farm is America’s First Theme Park, then it has a reputation to hold.
First off, you can explore the many various gift shops that go up and down. Explore the Berry Market, Candy Parlour, the famous, Snoopy Headquarters. Just watch out for the knucklehead, Charlie Brown. Grab a Snoopy Plush before you leave. If you are Knott’s Berry Farm Passholder, discounts do apply. Maybe you are there to grab something to eat? You can enjoy your favorite sports games at T.G.I. Friday’s or go to the world famous, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. In a hurry, but want some chicken, they do have Chicken-​to-​Go service available. Trust me, you’ll love Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner. If you are passing through, expect to wait a while because it is amazing!
More importantly, this is the home to a replica of Independence Hall. This is one of the most important buildings that established the United States of America. It is free admission by the wish of the late Walter Knott. It is an exact replica of the original in Philadelphia. Imagine what it was like to be back in time when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The most important piece of paper and the reason why I can write a Unilocal Review.
I don’t have to go into review about Knott’s Berry Farm, but it sure does bring a lot to the Buena Park area. The California Marketplace, at first, may not seem like much, but if you give it another perspective, you’ll see why it is important in the area. I would like to see an actual farmer’s market in the future. Sell some Boysenberry in the lots or even some Boysenberry with alligator without going into the park. However, California Marketplace is historic by itself and something you don’t just want to drive by at.
Unilocal…My passion is not to write my reviews, but to share my experiences with you. Take that journey and share your story.

We ate at Claim Jumper across the street and thought we would walk around a bit here.
Knotts gives you 1 hour free parking to visit the stores. If you buy something in one of the stores or eat at the Chicken restaurant you get an additional 2 hours. So 3 hours total.
Well, basically the stores need a make-​over. The store are kinda old & dark. It was around 9pm when we were there, summer time so still nice out but the Air cond was not on or working in Virginia’s store.

This is the weather I live for… which is why I think i belong in California…
Is it bad I enjoy the market place?
There are so many quaint shops right outside of knotts berry farm… You will feel like you are being transported into snoopy world… except for all the tourists like yourself… there’s restaurants… gift shops… tour bookings… hotels… bars, etc… it’s ALL here! Take a walk and enjoy the reasons why this area draws so many visitors all year long!

My ex-​husband and I go to Knott’s regularly with our two young kids. We love the park! As is often the case, we came over after work in separate cars at 5pm, and, thinking that the park closed at 6, we both parked in the shopping lot. Once we found out that the park closed at 8, we both did a little shopping to help alleviate any cost we might incur. We both left at the same time, about 8:10. I left from the right gate, and my ex husband left from the left. We both had our parking tickets and our shopping receipts. I left with a wave and smile (Timothy was wonderful!), but he took a little longer. After we had pulled onto the street, he tells me the older woman that manned the gate had charged him $ 25, THE FULL RATE FOR THE WHOLE DAY OR FOR A LOST TICKET! He was, of course, furious! We will be taking it up with Knott’s on Saturday, and I’ll be heading over to the Knott’s Berry Farm Park portion of Unilocal to give them a solid 5 stars.

It was the annual Knotts Berry Farm Fabulous Fords Forever Ford show. After seeing the bunch of new and old Fords and such we walked through In Game Sports that is attached to some other gift shop. Not much I can say about In Game Sports. I am not much of a sports fan anymore (blame Dodgers+TWC=No Free TV games broadcast like Kcal 9).
But the other stores are worth mentioning like Chicken 2 Go (reviewed last year) and the bakery.
The bakery has a whole lot of yum (makes me want to get fatter). You have your selection of cakes (yum), pies, and cookies. Yes you can get those famous KNotts boison berry pies. They used to have coffee drinks but not anymore. Next is the candy store I think.
Candy store that also has your jelly and such. I don’t like candy and jelly and such. I forgot what was next to that. At this store there is a restroom/​attrium which has our founding father George Washington’s fireplace and gun and such. When you walk into this attrium it feels like you stepped into the amazon cause it is humid in there.

But moving on that is next to chicken 2 go is Mrs. Knotts Chicken restaurant which you usually see a long line. Having been in the restaurant since ⁹⁶⁄₉₇ (I had no money last time I went in and blew my money on those stupid photos of the log ride).
Across from the restaurant is Virginia’s Gift Shop I think. They have a lot more nic nacks and stuff than the gift shop across the street where In Game is at.
Pinks used be here too but is now closed. Right next to Pink’s is Cinnabon. ewwww, not into that as well.
Overall this marketplace is very decent but not as big as Downtown Disney and doesn’t have that many places to eat. But from 91 Freeway on Beach Blvd to about Lincoln Ave is a tourist trap.

Knott’s California Marketplace is a really awesome addition to the outside of the park!
What you will find here is the famous Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant, The Berry Market, Virginia’s Gift Shop, Snoopy HQ, TGI Fridays, The Emporium, Farm Bakery, Cable Car Kitchen and a few other places that are fun to check out!
Every visit to Knott’s wouldn’t be complete without a walk though the marketplace mostly because generally you have to pass through it on your way back to your car from the park.
However if your not visiting the park today then you can park in the market place lot the entrance is to the left right next to TGI Fridays! Be advised that if your going to park here your first hour is free and you can obtain an additional 2 hours of free parking by buying something in the marketplace or by eating at one of the restaurants. If you don’t get your parking validated you will be charged a flat fee of $ 25 if you go over the free hour!
Don’t forget that if you have a Knott’s season pass you are eligible to receive discounts at every establishment inside the marketplace as well!
Out of the market place my favorite places here besides the chicken dinner restaurant have to be The Berry Market, Cable Car Kitchen, & Snoopy HQ.
The Berry Market consists of a wide variety of their brand jams that are just too delicious not to always have some at home! They also carry a variety of other delicious boysenberry related items that you know your going to want so pay them a visit!
The Berry Market is also home to the secret bathroom that many people don’t seem to know it exists! It’s inside and through the glass doors inside the area where all the plants are! So if you gotta go definitely seek this out as it’s one of the closest ones to the middle of the marketplace!
Snoopy HQ has pretty much every variation of Snoopy/​Peanuts merchandise you can hope to find which rocks because a lot of the things here I’ve never seen anywhere else but at Knott’s and it’s always fun to visit this cool store!
Cable Car Kitchen is a relatively newer addition to the marketplace it took the spot of what was Pinks and oh how awesome that is because it’s wayyy better food quality and portions are just huge and packed full of flavor on every sandwich they serve!
Wile you walkabout the market place your bound to have a good time find some delicious things and hear a few screams in the background as Ghost Rider’s huge wooden track wonders through the end of the marketplace thrilling people and giving you that feeling that your at an amusement park!
Have fun and always enjoy as many boysenberry things as you can wile at Knott’s or their Marketplace!

Old-​school village-​style shopping area with restaurants and stores associated with the Knott’s Berry Farm.
Food options: Pink’s Hot Dogs, Dreyer’s Ice Creams, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner and Chicken To Go, coffee and desserts in the bakery/​Berry Market, TGI Friday’s.
Shopping: Snoopy HQ park memorabilia, Virginia’s Gifts for more souvenirs, Berry Market/​bakery for various Knott’s kitchen products and gifts (pasta sauces, salsas, seasonings, and enough jams, preserves, syrups, and marmalades to shake a stick at), and a sports collectibles store across the way, too.
We made our way up and down the shopping area and were pleasantly surprised by the service at most of the stores– attentive, inquired about whether we needed help, etc.
Ultimately we only bought Knott’s berry products (jams and marmalades) exclusive to the park store location. Priced high at $ 9−13/jar but very tasty and again, not available elsewhere.

Before Downtown Disney was a twinkle in Mickey’s eye, there was California Marketplace at Knott’s. It’s the «original» amusement park shopping mall. Today the most notable establishments are Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, TGI Friday’s, Virginia’s Gift Shop, Cinnabon, Pink’s hot dogs, and Snoopy Headquarters.
As for myself, I visit for only one reason, Mrs. Knott’s fried chicken. A mix of nostalgia, tasty food, and relative ease of access brings me here. I appreciate the homeyness of the place, feels almost like visiting someone’s grandma’s house.
With that said, it’s eclectic with layers of development that doesn’t quite match the original countryside theme, i.e. Pink’s and TGI Friday’s. On top of that the upkeep on the older, heavily used buildings such as Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, are in need of dire remodeling. Walking through and around you’ll notice minor wood rot, strange additions, and expansions that weren’t well executed. Dining tables right next to the restroom, a maze of unleveled walkways, a puzzling rock water fountain, etc. The banquet room had furnishing that clearly didn’t match, such as the modern chandeliers paired with sparse and haphazardly place country furnishings. Yes, homey and decorated much like grandma’s place. If I were top dog, I’d level the place and start anew.
But the closet theme park designer in me needs to step off the high horse. It’s a good place to go. It’s easy to get in and out of, as far as amusement parks go. It’s relatively affordable. It’s interesting enough to stroll through that will keep an out of towner, kids, or a date entertained on some idle Tuesday.

We dare not say the «D» word here. :P
No way. Not even once! But for purposes of this review… It must be non-​daringly said. Folks, if you come here expecting Downtown «Disney» or «Disneyland», you might as well get back in your car and leave this cute marketplace right this second: P (FYI though, you do get 3 hours free parking with proof of purchase! So, you might as well enjoy your time here) Notice how I said «cute». Downtown Disney is not «cute», its more like an explosion of fantasy shops and restaurants. Knott’s California MarketPlace, on the other hand, is your OG (that’s Original Gangsta! ;P), your one-​of-​a-​kind, if not that, then downright original idea of what Walt Disney probably experienced as a kid growing up and then was inspired to create Disneyland itself! Come on, Disneyland opened its doors in 1955, while Knotts opened starting in the 1920s :)
Anywho, I will be real in saying that this MarketPlace is not how it used to be when I was a Peanut myself 20-​something years ago. Let’s just face it — every little store, bakery, even Knott’s Kitchen is still here serving up memorable tasty eats! But nothing has really changed aesthetically … Which is historically nice BUT I want my Knott’s Snoopy Haven to glisten as it once did back in the day. The upkeep should be at the level of «Disneyland» by now :(but its not. The only store that has promise is Snoopys Headquarters! I could be in there for hours :) YIKES! Is it horrible that I feel like I am walking into a thrift shop when I’m browsing through the other marketplace stores? :(It seems that most of the time, as you walk around the marketplace, you have rude, obnoxious people who aren’t afraid to yell out how they feel to their family or group member who’s 20 feet away from them :(It’s disappointing. What’s even more sad is that people don’t respect the property and run amuck (adult and kids alike). They’re trashy, have no integrity and make those who do cringe at the sight of them. I hope Cedar Fair realizes the treasure they have here in Buena Park and put even more of their investments in the 1^st ever Amusement Park. When I have the money, I certainly will [just waiting for the lottery jackpot! :) ]
But, however it looks like, I AM grateful Knotts Berry Farm and this humble marketplace is still here for all of us to enjoy… No matter how run down it may get
Have fun!
:) Sarah Marie «The Snoopy Lover» M.

My husband and I love LOVE this place. We go there about once every two months or so for dinner. Fried chicken, the best! Then they have a bakery. Okay, we usually just look. Then they have great gifts at reasonable prices and fun things to look at. Three hours free parking. It’s close to the parking if someone in your party has an issue with walking a lot.

California Marketplace is to Knott’s what Downtown Disney is to Disneyland only on a smaller scale. It is a collection of about 14 – 16 shops and eateries just outside the theme park. It has restaurants like Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant including Chicken to Go, TGIFriday’s, Pink’s hotdogs, Dryers, Cinnabon, along with shops for all things Snoopy and Peanuts plus a sports memorabilia, candy, Berry stuff, etc and Independence Hall. It is a street front you walk thru going into the park from the parking lot and the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort to the theme park. You walk under a roller coaster on the way. The shops stayed open after the theme park closed so you could get that last minute treasure. The Snoopy Headquarters has so much great stuff. Every movie, tees, Plush characters, knick knacks etc. If you know someone who likes one of the characters it is a perfect place for a gift. This Marketplace area requires no fees or admission to the park. You can park for free for 3 hours and go shop and eat. Just tell the parking attendant you are eating at Mrs. Knott’s or wherever. Then if you need more time it is $ 4 every half an hour up to $ 20. Don’t think that will happen very much. You can do it all in 3 hours easy depending on the day or evening. If you want to experience a little Knott’s before you go, check out the KBF resort, or get some Peanuts stuff or just eat Mrs. Knott’s it works.