Food Court of the Damned

by D.W. Hitz

In this 1990s schlocky horror throwback, a group of Floridian teens get summer jobs at the mall to pay for their trip to a music festival. Unfortunately, working at this mall's food court comes with a price, and they will be lucky if they escape with both their lives and their souls.

Genres: Horror, Novella

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2025

About the author

D.W. Hitz loves the outdoors and enjoys making it a background character in his work. He devours stories in all mediums. He enjoys writing in the genres of Horror, Supernatural/Paranormal Thriller, and Science Fiction/Fantasy. He aspires to tell stories that thrill the heart and stimulate the imagination.

When not writing, D.W. enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, camping, and playing with the dogs.

Be sure to sign up for his Patreon today at https://patreon.com/dwhitz to stay up to date with news and exclusive offers, plus discounts on signed books.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun outing with DW Hitz. The 80s were pretty amazing, but the 90s, despite a lot of flaws, had some good points, too. So, it's always fun to revisit that decade from time to time. Solid references, namely the music, and this really captured the feel of 90s horror movies. No real depth or standout characters, but just a bunch of wise cracking adolescents trying to get blotto or whatever else, partying like its 1899. Plenty of blood and creatures and humor in a unique setting. Food courts, especially during prime times, at a mall can be a scary place. The yelling, screaming, grabbing, etc, and that's not involving any supernatural elements. That's just like a Saturday afternoon. And this made me even more hesitant to visit them in the future. Whether demons or some greasy fast food or even a gooey Cinnabon, it's risky, my friends. Heed my warning, Topsiders. Read this for a good time, but please don't get possessed by mall demons. I beg of thee!

[✮ osanna aoki ✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I’d like to thank author D.W. Hitz for providing me with an ARC of Food Court of the Damned in exchange for my honest review.

Um, why are you putting blood in my smoothie?!?

It’s the year 1993 in the small town of Golden Palms, Florida.

I’ve yet to even be born— but I felt all of the imaginary nostalgia.

Food Court of the Damned takes place during the start of another kick-ass summer break. School’s out, the rowdy parties are eager for young attendees, weed and shrooms are ready to hypnotize, and every teenager’s goal is to attend the annual Lollapalooza music festival.

But teens are teens no matter the decade—broke.

Holly has a job at Zen’s Asian Delight, inside of the local mall’s food court. She might be able to afford the roadtrip to Lollapalooza this July.

So her friends— Phil, Robin, and Ryan also make a pact to score some jobs at the food court, too.

And do they score? Yes, they do.

But of course— this food court is for the damned. They’ll find out soon enough.

This story quickly spirals into one of possession, demons, sacrificial offerings, and a food court cult with an interesting and unexpected backstory.

I enjoyed this quick read, and to put it simply, it was a good time. I liked that D.W. Hitz was able to incorporate a bit of 90’s nostalgia and scene-setting in a short amount of time. Who doesn’t like to reminisce a little bit? The characters felt developed enough, the plot was entertaining, and well— there was gore. I also enjoy Hitz’s easygoing writing style and his knack for hellish tales.

I’m giving this book ★ ★ ★ ★ stars for its entertaining premise and for setting up a cult at the food court. Who would’ve guessed? If you’re looking for a fun, punchy, B-horror vibe— this is the novella for you. I’ll definitely be looking out for more works by this author in the near future.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh… the mall food court. A place I’m typically suspicious of, but now my fears have been proven true (well I was always worried about food handling practices, not necessarily cult activity, but tomato, tomahto 🤷🏻‍♀️) in Hitz’s new tale of terror.

It’s fun, pulpy, demonic, and a total throwback to 80s/90s classic horror. With a trio of friends getting jobs at the mall, they soon start to suspect there is something nefarious going on in the background. Coworkers start acting strange, and what’s with the weird “red sauce” every vendor seems to be putting into their food?

I loved every minute I spent with this story! It’s also got such a rad cover designed by Matt Seff Barnes! Don’t miss out on “Food Court of the Damned”!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cover is amazing, and the story was a bloody good time, too. I honestly think my favorite thing about "Food Court Of The Damned" was that feeling of nostalgia while reading it. I definitely got 90s horror flick vibes... and if this was a movie, I would 110% watch the hell out of it!

Be careful, though. This one might make you rethink the food court.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Diana | Indie Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food Court of the Damned is a schlocky horror that takes readers straight back to the 90s, where a group of teens find themselves working in a mall's food court during the summer. They’re trying to make some cash for an upcoming music festival, but instead, they’re thrown into a nightmare that might cost them their lives.

I loved how this book captures the essence of the 90s. Hitz nailed the food court and overall mall vibes. The author’s writing makes it easy to visualize everything, almost as if you are hanging out at the mall yourself, immersed in all the chaos that is taking place. It reads very much like a nostalgic B movie. It delivers plenty of suspense and tension. It’s fast-paced, bloody and will keep you flipping pages to see what is coming next.

If you're a fan of 90s horror with some campy charm, this book is an absolute must-read.

[Corrina Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

DW Hitz has done it again!!
Another absolute unputdownable banger!

When I saw Matt Seff Barnes share this awesome cover he had created, I fell in love with it immediately and hoped it would get snapped up. Imagine my delight when not only was it indeed snapped up, but by one of my favourite authors too! And of course, Hitz did it absolute justice with the story he sandwiched between that cover! 🖤

It's no secret that I love DW's writing and I slipped into this latest release like an old pair of slippers. Blood encrusted slippers, with a few suspicious looking globules…

You are imediately drawn in, the narrative as slick and intricate as ever. The story is exciting, and intriguing. Every chapter is a tempting tease of a cliffhanger, keeping you turning the pages, devouring them like a starved tramp!

Another nightmarish fever dream from the brilliantly dark mind of DW Hitz. The world's he builds are disturbing, magnificent, and so very horrifying. Matched only by the unnerving feeling that comes along for the ride. A sense of unease, trepidation and suspense, making you want to look over your shoulder the whole time.

This was epic!! So much blood soaked, creepy, satanic fun! 🖤

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat

It's the 90s and it's summertime in Florida. A group of teenagers are determined to earn some money in order to go to a music festival and the food court at the local mall is the place to go. The things is, there's something strange happening at this mall, deeper and darker than anyone could imagine, and the group of teens will be lucky to escape with their lives...and their souls...

I loved the nostalgia in this one. It really paid homage to the 90s and I was here for it. I loved that this was set in a mall and that there was this big evil happening after hours. The characters were fun, and I enjoyed all of them, I loved the found family vibe in the group of friends, and how they were more of a troublemaker group of teens when in reality they were just trying their best. I am a sucker for a story that has something to do with a cult, and this one brought that in spades. I read this around the time that I watched the movie Late Night with the Devil, and this book gave me that kinda vibe, I can't explain how, but it just did. I'm super keen to see if Hitz will revisit this world and we get to see more about the cult itself and more about what happened after this story.

This was a gore filled, nostalgic, summer romp and I'm keen as to check out more of Hitz's work. If you're looking for a quick, gore filled read, with a wonderful cast of characters that you can't help but get behind, give this one a go.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

A group of early 90s teens decide to get summer jobs at the mall food court. It’s the end of the school year and Lollapalooza is their goal, so serving shakes and sandwiches is their way out. Of course, working fast food sucks, even at the mall! Despite getting to work with their friends, something is off with the rest of the staff. Will our characters get to their concert? Or will they be DAMNED!!!

I had a blast reading this! I was 100% a mall kid in the late 90s and early 2000s. We had a two story McDonalds in our mall, so…it was very fancy. I also remember when you could smoke inside the mall when I was a kid. I was too young, but thought it was badass. What I’m getting at is that I really loved the mall aspect in this book. The set up was all really fun and very 90s.

From the first chapter you can tell this isn’t JUST a fun nostalgia trip for 90s kids. It is a brutal and gory horror story. It’s got a mix of possesion, cults, and demons. I had fun with the building violence and the huge blowout ending. The characters are great! Fair amount of drug use and some darker subjects covered, but nothing too extreme.

This was my first from DW Hitz and I really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your ARC team! I recommend it to anyone who loved the 90s and enjoys a gory, nostalgic horror story!!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Food Court of the Damned" reads like the perfect novelization of the 90s B-movie that never was: full of tension and suspense, with a fully likeable cast of teens who love music and weed, and a demonic menace that feeds on blood and sacrifice! Excellent build-up, reminiscent of supernatural slashers, but this one also includes cults, gore, and creepy mall horror, in a fast-paced story of possession, violence and heroic bravery. Unmisseable!

[Dawn Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something very weird going on at the Golden Palms mall. The food court employees have become dead on their feet, there’s some kind of “special” sauce, and people are dying to get in. D.W. has done it again with another fantastic story with a 90’s background. Made my horror/90’s loving heart go boom boom. Interesting and intriguing, well written and perfectly executed. You can never go wrong with a Hitz book and he just proved it again.

[Ian Gielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nostalgic fuelled trip in the style of the 80s/90s pulp horror this is a super fun, fast paced read from start to finish.

The story follows a group of teens who are revelling in their youth with drugs, alcohol and partying when they all decide to get jobs at the mall to pay for an upcoming music festival. Little do they know that the court is slowly being taken over by an insidious evil, infecting one employee at a time including their friend Holly who has been working there for a while. Together, they have to work out a way to save their friend whilst also trying to stay alive in the face of overwhelming odds.

The story is over the top, goofy and has a likeable cast of characters and was a refreshing throwback to the absurd horror of the 80s and 90s so if you liked those, you'll love this!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this was fun and refreshing to read! I'm just saying, with all this crazy cult stuff that went down at the food court that the friend group went through, minimum wage definitely is not worth it! All they wanted to do was go to Lollapalooza! Check this out if you are in the mood for a fun horror story set in the 90s!

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bloody fun read that throws it back to the 90’s. There’s plenty of blood and gore; but let’s talk storyline—thrilling and has you reading and not wanting to put it down! Loved this read!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

D.W. Hitz has managed to cram a lot of memorable, enjoyable schlocky goodness into an incredibly brief, barely over 100-page novella. The premise is memorable and nostalgically immersive, and the plot's propulsion doesn’t let up for a moment. There’s a ton of humor in here that dovetails nicely with the sporadic bursts of intense, bloody violence. The highlight here is definitely the characters; each one was relatable and very well fleshed out for the short page count. I was even more impressed with the subtle but effective character development that was nicely spread out amongst all the tentacle demons and throat-slashing. Shane particularly grew on me; I really dug that dude.

My proclivities tend to lean toward longer fiction (which is ironic since I myself have only published novellas and therefore understand their streamlined, cut-down narratives), so my qualms with the story are mostly tied to the fact that I wish there were *more* of certain aspects. I loved the flashbacks and would have loved to see more of that time period, with that cop. I liked the dynamic among all the different people working at the mall/food court and would have loved to spend more time with them before the shit hit the fan. I’d just have liked the world to be more fully developed and immersive, which I guess speaks to how well Hitz wrote the characters and the world, and how deeply I was pulled into the quick narrative. I’d have still liked the story to have taken place over the summer as opposed to the first week of summer, I just think that would have made a bit more sense, and a little variety in the butchery would have been nice, but I think both of these are also minor quibbles over a 108 page novella that I tore through in two sittings.

Heavily recommended for fans of splatter and demonic stories, of nostalgia trips to the 90s or the mall, or just fun horror books with a solid hang-out vibe splattered in arterial spray. Hitz absolutely has a fan in me, and I plan on tracking down some of his other books as soon as I can.

4 out of 5 demon-blood-infused-smoothies from me.

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2025/02/17/food-court-of-the-damned/
D.W. Hitz’s Food Court of the Damned is the epitome of cheeky throwback ‘90s horror. This fun and wicked homage has all the weed, blood, violence, and angst you expect in an early ‘90s horror movie, um, book about demonic happenings at a mall food court.

Did I say movie? I did. Because this reads like a movie, fast-paced, visual, great suspense, and entertaining dialogue. But this is definitely horror. There’s some nasty stuff going down at the food court, some terrifying stuff too. Cue the group of friends, who just wanted to make concert money, now caught up in trying to solve the mystery of the weirdness going on and what it has to do with one of their own acting strangely.

Speaking of which, I love these characters. Not quite the obligatory stereotypes but almost, they’re vivid and engaging and fun. Hitz skillfully gave them some depth without stalling the pace, and that made a huge difference for me, made the story that much more engrossing, made the scary scarier.

Food Court of the Damned is a great read, a darkly fun read, a twisted and entertaining story. It has some wicked violence and grossness, some great character interaction, and has pretty much put me off fast-food smoothies for a while. And seriously, you have to love that cover art; it’s both awesome and relevant.

[Summer R Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!

This is fast-paced, and I absolutely loved it. Set in the summer and at the mall! There is lots of blood and moderate gore. If you're looking for that, then you're looking in the right direction. This is definitely a book you can read in one sitting. The characters are all rather enjoyable, and I just really enjoyed the overall atmosphere. I enjoy books like this as they start off getting right into things. That doesn't mean I don't like a build-up. I just sometimes like it more getting right into things. We even get a quick flash back into the past to learn a couple of things, and I think that really helped.

A group of teens all getting jobs at the mall. What could go wrong? Apparently, it's quite a bit. There seems to be a lot going on behind the scenes. There's a darkness brewing, and things will only get worse. Was this really worth it for a little money? Read and see if you think so or not.

Like I said before, I enjoy books like this. Fast-paced, right to the point, and maybe even more. Of course, this being around the time I was born does bring nostalgia, too. But come on, the cover says it all, and I just loved the blood, death, and how it ended!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food Court of the Damned is a fun, nostalgic throwback to the 1990s in the summertime. High school students Robin, Phil, and Ryan need money for a music festival. What better place to find a job than the food court at the local mall? Their friend, Holly, already works at one of the restaurants, and they know the other places will be looking for summer help. The trio has no problem securing jobs, and learning how to make sandwiches and smoothies is pretty easy. What they don’t know is that something sinister is happening at the food court, something that has been in the works for quite some time. Coworkers begin acting differently and other troubling signs become apparent. What started as a simple way to earn some cash turns into a fight for not only their lives, but their souls. This one is a bloody good time and anyone who spent at least some of their youth in the mall will instantly be transported back to all the smells and greasy offerings of the food court. I loved the characters, one in particular, learning the history behind what was happening, and getting a chance to reminisce about some of my childhood.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody does it like D.W. Hitz, and that is a hill I will die on. Every story, he brings crrative gore, wild storylines, and sharp heartbreak, and every single one is so much fun to read!

By this point, I really should know better than to get too attached to any character because odds are something terrible is going to happen to them by the end (Sorry, Shane 😭). And yet, I continuously find myself getting heartbroken when my bleeding heart picks out doomed characters.

I was lucky enough to read this on Patreon before release, and I'm so happy to see it coming out to the wider world. Hitz has a gift, and despite this being my second time reading Food Court of the Damned, I was sucked in as if it was my first read. I'll never get tired of reading a Hitz!

Full of a ridiculous amount of nostalgia and the happy reminder of spending hours in a non-damned mall, Food Court of the Damned makes me really want to take a trip to the closest (kind of dying) mall to me. But maybe steer clear of the food court and the Auntie Anne's Pretzels....I've got enough problems without accidentally joining a demon cult!

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun campy horror, I loved the cover, so of course I had to check out the synopsis, and I was hooked.

This was an easily ARC read for me and one I really enjoyed it, this kind of thing reminds me of all those books I would pick up and read at the flea market, i found so many gems that way, and the fact we have authors out here still writing stories like this, fills me with so much horrifying joy lol .

Group of kids in Florida? I already KNEW it was going to be unhinged, but they just want to make some cash to pay for a music festival, that cant be too crazy, right?

But spoiler alert, it is, sometimes a food court is serving up much more than just lunch.

The teens in question, aren't the usual, wow cant wait till they die cast that we see often, these teens were actually kind of relatable and i actually liked them lol

I am really enjoying retail horror, and I don't know what that even means, but I've noticed it lol.

This to me was fast paced, well written, and had me jonseing to finish, do we live, or do we die by the Food Court rules?

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read from D.W Hitz. It’s a shorter book with a lotta gore but then throw in a side of cults and weird tentacled headdresses on freakish dudes. It’s a campy read but definitely a fun one.

Fun fact! First job as a high schooler in the mid aughts was slinging catfish nuggets at the mall food court so the setting was incredibly easy to visualize. Hitz doesn’t spend a ton of time on characterization, but we follow a small friends group as summer vacation descends. The boys tended to blur together a bit but towards the end Hitz adds some backstory which helps to empathize with our group.

I loved some of the musical nods in the story but do feel as though Hitz could’ve gone a bit harder with the 90s nostalgia. It’s a bloody, fun (and bloody fun UK style) read and definitely will be a treat for most horror lovers.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read back to the 90s when I was just a young whippersnapper. I enjoyed all the 90s references, especially Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of my favorite rock groups. All those memories of music I was into were appreciated.

As for the story itself, it's a classic D.W. Hitz tale. It all started at a place I used to enjoy, the mall's food court. I admit I was hungry when I heard all the delicious places, especially the Asian place, haha. However, that hunger will go away rather quickly when they find out something sinister is taking place at the food court. That bright red stuff might look appetizing, but believe me it's not!

It has the classic B-Movie vibe that I so enjoy for a 90s horror. Cult in a food court? Yeah, it's a thing it seems, hehe. Thank you D.W. Hitz for another banger of a read. If you're looking for a classic B-Movie/Demon read, grab this one today. Also, if you're like me you'll appreciate the nostalgia in the beginning of the story.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who remembers those fantastic summers in the 90s spending days at the mall eating at food courts? Those delicious corn dogs, pretzels, and all the pizza and smoothies you could eat. Well, let me tell you, this book is not those fun summer days. It's far from it. It's absolutely demonic and disgusting. While reading this book, I had a song stuck in my head, "Running with the Devil," by Van Halen. This was so fun to read and brought back so many memories of hanging out at the mall.
I will worn you, do not accept the "Red Sauce" for any reason, it's not BBQ.

[Emily Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seance and murder/blood cult in a food court!? Say less.

This was a fun read. We get to follow Ryan, Robin and Phil as they try to save their friend Holly, and all the rest of the mall goers and themselves from the evil cult that it is pursuing.

This was fast paced, fun, and gripping. The character development at the end was truly great.

Will recommend this one! I mean, who doesn’t love some nostalgic mall horror?

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Robyn, Ryan and Phil, school is out for the summer. They decide to get summer jobs in order to pay for tickets to a festival that's coming up. Where better to get a job than the food court in the local mall? Only something strange is happening. Why is everyone acting so strange? And what is this weird red sauce they are told to put on every order?

A nostalgic 90s horror set in a mall? Yes, please. It was fast-paced, it was fun and gruesome at times. Shane had me laughing out loud at some of his comments. This was a short read and it had me wanting more.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and nostalgic romp that took me back to my teenage years of hanging around the mall! Phil, Ryan, and Robin are eager to join their friend Holly working at the mall’s food court for the summer, daydreaming about saving enough money to get them to Lollapalooza. But wait, what’s this strange red sauce that every restaurant is using on the food??
I dare you not to finish this one in one or two sittings! DW Hitz hits the ball out of the park yet again.

[Jesse Bollinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the story was a blast! It took me back to the 90s and to the video store. This was totally like a 90s horror movie that I would have rented. I connected with the characters very easily and got wrapped up in their quest for survival. This had the right amount of character development, and horrific. Scenes to make this novel a winner. I have not been let down yet by any of this authors work. He’s an instant read for me now. I will say, though I’m never eating at a food court again.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the 90s. I love throwback horror, I love the guts and gore. This had a little bit of everything -cults, demons, and possession - and it could have been too much, but it worked out well! It was a quick read of about 100 pages and was the perfect pick me up after a series of heavier novels I read.

Thank you to the author for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Joan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

D W Hitz is a wordsmith that creates nostalgia with the tap of the key. I really enjoy his descriptive way of showing his reader the colors of blood in his stories. He is a master of extreme gore.

This story brought me back to my high school days, hanging out with my friends and visiting the food courts, especially getting an Orange Juluis.

[Rainbeaux Harvest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun ride through my teen years. Going to the mall, working at the mall, hanging out with friends. I don't remember any red sauce or satanic cults, though. I think I missed that part of my teen years. I loved every part of this story.

[Ryan James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the author. Unfortunately, the flu took pretty good hold. It was a quick, fun read. Highly recommend, especially for those who enjoy a little nostalgia of the early 90’s and occult horror.