Fans of Chi-Chi’s Mexican restaurant chain can once again enjoy the brand’s signature dishes as the company opened its new flagship location last month in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
The restaurant filled all its opening-day reservations, according to The Independent, marking a highly anticipated return for a chain that closed its doors two decades ago.
“Chi-Chi’s is back stronger than ever,” said Michael McDermott, founder of Chi-Chi’s Restaurants, LLC, according to The Independent. “We’re bringing back the food, energy, and fun that people love, now with a fresh twist for a whole new generation.”
McDermott continued: “We’re incredibly grateful to our supporters and investors who have helped make this moment possible, and we can’t wait to welcome both familiar and new faces to experience Chi-Chi’s.”
The original Chi-Chi’s was founded in 1975 and grew to more than 200 locations nationwide. The chain’s expansion stopped in 2003 following a hepatitis A outbreak. The outbreak killed four people and sickened more than 650 others, according to the Associated Press. Health officials traced the outbreak to green onions used as a garnish on salsas.
The chain filed for bankruptcy around the same time as the outbreak, with the last remaining restaurant shutting down in 2004, the Associated Press reported.
The new Chi-Chi’s menu features classic items including the original chimichanga and nachos grande. Company officials have announced plans to open a second location in Minnesota and are developing a franchise model that could expand the chain nationally.
“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,” McDermott previously said.
Dining and Cooking