The Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s is planning to once again open its door starting next year, 20 years after shuttering all of its locations according to its parent company on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The restaurant brand is looking to make a comeback as it hopes to attract customers searching for a taste of nostalgia.
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Michael McDermott, the son of the chain’s co-founder, struck a deal with Hormel Foods, which owns the Chi-Chi’s trademark. Chi-Chi’s closed its last restaurant in 2004 following a series of ownership changes and a hepatitis A outbreak. The outbreak was linked to four deaths and sickened more than 600 people.
We have seen the impact our restaurant has had on individuals and families across the country.
Michael McDermott
Chi-Chi’s Mexican chain set to return 20 years after last restaurant closed https://t.co/eYDcQ0MrFm pic.twitter.com/Wq72fasTHL
— The Independent (@Independent) December 5, 2024
Chi-Chi’s was founded by restaurateur Marno McDermott and former Green Bay Packers player Max McGee in 1975. The chain reached more than 200 locations nationwide during its heyday.
“I still have fond memories of growing up in the Chi-Chi’s restaurants that my father built throughout their time, instilling in me the passion and determination to pursue my own career in the restaurant industry,” McDermott said. “We have seen the impact our restaurant has had on individuals and families across the country and believe there is a strong opportunity to bring the brand back in a way that resonates with today’s consumer – an updated dining experience with the same great taste and Mexican flavor.”
Despite no physical locations over two decades, the Chi-Chi’s name has been on packaged chips and salsa at supermarkets. Specifics on the new menu items and locations for 2025 have not yet been revealed.
[craig nigrelli]
FINALLY THIS MORNING – ONE RESTAURANT BRAND IS LOOKING TO MAKE A COMEBACK AS IT HOPES TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS IN SEARCH OF A TASTE OF NOSTALGIA.
THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT CHAIN — CHI-CHI’S – IS PLANNING TO ONCE AGAIN OPEN ITS DOOR STARTING NEXT YEAR.
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT – THE SON OF THE CHAIN’S CO-FOUNDER – STRIKING A DEAL WITH HORMEL FOODS – WHICH OWNS THE CHI-CHI’S TRADEMARK.
CHI-CHI’S CLOSED IT LAST RESTAURANT IN 2004 FOLLOWING A “HEPATITIS A” OUTBREAK THAT WAS LINKED TO FOUR DEATHS AND SICKENED OVER 600 PEOPLE.
MCDERMOTT SAYS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK THE BRAND IN A WAY THAT RESONATES WITH TODAY’S CONSUMERS – BUT SPECIFICS ON MENU ITEMS AND LOCATIONS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REVEALED.
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