Chi-Chi’s is Coming Back, Two Decades After the Chain’s Controversial Closure
Over twenty years ago, the Minnesota-born Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s disappeared. After a 2003 hepatitis A outbreak connected to green onions in their salsa caused over 600 illnesses and three deaths, the chain, which was founded in 1975, closed its doors. While the tragedy prompted some new food safety regulations, it marked the end for Chi-Chi’s.
However, the restaurant is now making a comeback. Plans to open new Chi-Chi’s restaurants in the future have been announced, and Hormel Foods, the current owner of Chi-Chi’s trademark, hopes to lure customers back with new offerings.
Hormel confirmed that Michael McDermott, son of the chain’s co-founder Marno McDermott (the other co-founder was Green Bay Packers player Max McGee), is leading the charge for new restaurants.
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Chi-Chi’s was known for its fun decor and Tex-Mex menu, and McDermott hopes to tie in the nostalgia of the old restaurants with new, modern menu items and, of course, the highest food safety standards. “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,” McDermott said in a press release.
Only time will tell if Chi-Chi’s will be successful in its revival. As of now, no locations, menu items, or restaurant decor have been announced, but they said they plan to open back up sometime in 2025.
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