The Malt Shop Clowns (formerly the Car Hop Clowns) are a clown unit from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Malt Shop Clowns made their debut in the 2004 Parade. serving up shakes and fries with a smile. The group of kooky car hops reminded spectators of the days of sock hops, poodle skirts, and drive-ins as they accompanied the American Classic Malt Shop float from Amica Insurance down Broadway.
The clown unit was briefly retired after 2005 when members of the Broadway Dance Center wore their outfits for their 2006 Parade performance. They returned in 2009 as the Malt Shop Clowns with a groovy beat and a hip shake. The Malt Shop Clowns have appeared in every parade since (with the exception of 2020, when many clown units were cut to due to the COVID-19 pandemic).