After closing its last location over two decades ago, beloved Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s is making a comeback. The announcement was made by Hormel Foods, which owns the Chi-Chi’s trademark, earlier this week. Michael McDermott, the son of one of the original founders, has secured an agreement with Hormel to reopen the chain in 2025.
McDermott, a restaurateur who founded Kona Grill and Rojo Mexican Grill, plans to revive the brand by opening two initial locations in Minnesota next year. His goal is to explore the original development path Chi-Chi’s took in the Midwest and East Coast.
The restaurant’s return comes nearly 30 years after it closed due to a hepatitis A outbreak at a Pittsburgh-area location. The outbreak resulted in four deaths and over 600 people being sickened, prompting lawsuits and ultimately leading to the chain’s demise in 2004.
Hormel Foods has continued to produce Chi-Chi’s salsa and other grocery store products since acquiring the rights in the 1980s. With McDermott at the helm, Chi-Chi’s is set to reopen its doors and bring back fond memories for many fans of the brand.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/chi-chis-mexican-restaurants-return-after-20-year-absence