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Chi-Chi’s Restaurant Chain to Return in 2025 After Closing Down 20 Years Ago
Breitbart ^ | December 5, 2024 | Amy Furr

Posted on 12/05/2024 9:33:50 PM PST by Morgana

A Minnesota-based Mexican restaurant chain is preparing to reopen some locations in 2025 after it shut down 20 years ago.

Chi-Chi’s trademark owner, Hormel Foods, said Tuesday it will allow the son of the chain’s co-founder to use the name for the openings, CNN reported Wednesday.

Co-founder Marno McDermott and Green Bay Packers player Max McGee opened Chi-Chi’s in 1975, and the chain grew to 200 locations:

However, the chain closed in 2004 following a hepatitis A outbreak at a Pittsburgh-area location traced to green onions served in its complimentary salsa, sickening about 650 people and resulting in four deaths and several hundred lawsuits. It’s the largest hepatitis A outbreak in United States history and led to nationwide food safety changes.

McDermott’s son, Michael, said, “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,” per Local 12.

The outlet noted the brand still sells items such as salsa and tortillas in some grocery stores. It remains unclear how many locations will be opened for business or where they will open, according to the Hill.

A Chi-Chi’s commercial from 1991 shows people enjoying the restaurant’s Sonoran Sampler which at the time had a price tag of $7.99 and included fried ice cream for dessert:

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Food
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You all know what "chi chis" means in spanish don't you?
1 posted on 12/05/2024 9:33:50 PM PST by Morgana
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To: Morgana

Ch-i Ch-i Rog-ih-weez


2 posted on 12/05/2024 9:37:49 PM PST by LukeL
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To: Morgana; All

Looked up—boobs
Unless them meant chic-chic and spell poorly

>>Hormel
Famed for Spam


3 posted on 12/05/2024 9:39:01 PM PST by raccoonradio
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To: raccoonradio

DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

No more phone calls please.

yes chi chis means tits.


4 posted on 12/05/2024 9:40:45 PM PST by Morgana ( “Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women.” — Alice Paul )
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To: LukeL
Ch-i Ch-i Rog-ih-weez

Very nice! You can never go wrong with a WKRP reference.

5 posted on 12/05/2024 9:41:54 PM PST by CatOwner (Don't expect anyone, even conservatives, to have your back when the SHTF in 2021 and beyond.)
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To: Morgana

Well, Hooters was taken, so...


6 posted on 12/05/2024 9:42:13 PM PST by RandallFlagg (Democrats should have been barred from elections since The Battle Of Athens.)
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To: RandallFlagg

That and hooters was not mexican food.


7 posted on 12/05/2024 9:45:32 PM PST by Morgana ( “Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women.” — Alice Paul )
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To: Morgana

Wiki claims Chi-Chi the nickname of the wife of one founder


8 posted on 12/05/2024 9:47:55 PM PST by raccoonradio
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To: Morgana

I hope they are successful. It would be nice to put the original one back where it was in Richfield, Minnesota, but that spot is now in a Menards parking lot and it would be right next to a Taco Bell.


9 posted on 12/05/2024 9:49:02 PM PST by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: Morgana

My roomie worked there back in the day and I was able to either eat free or half price which really improved the already excellent flavor.


10 posted on 12/05/2024 9:52:23 PM PST by Manic_Episode (Harpazo imminent. Each post may be my last. It's been real =)
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To: All

Sonoran Sampler---burrito, chimichanga, fried ice cream.

11 posted on 12/05/2024 9:52:35 PM PST by Liz (The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to RULE. (H.L. Mencken)
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To: Ronaldus Magnus

Many years ago when I’d travel from central NY State to do research at the National Archives, I used to stay with a friend who lived in Clinton, Md. There was a Chi Chi’s not far from her home, and we’d go there for dinner occasionally. I enjoyed their beef fajitas.


12 posted on 12/05/2024 10:00:00 PM PST by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: LukeL

Bayze-boll bin BELLy-BeLLY good to ME


13 posted on 12/05/2024 10:04:01 PM PST by Don W (When blacks riot, neighborhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn)
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To: Morgana
It seems very suspicious to open a chain of restaurants at a time when restaurants are closing all over the place. It seems even more suspicious that they're recycling the name of a restaurant chain that had multiple bankruptcies prior to hosting the largest Hepatitis A outbreak in U.S. history. (More than 600 got Hepatitis A and 4 died).

It's almost as though someone wants to open a business that they don't want actually patronized. Is it for a distribution deal with companies in Mexico? Money laundering?

14 posted on 12/05/2024 10:16:27 PM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: Morgana

I tended bar at a Chi-Chi’s in college. They had the best margarita mix.


15 posted on 12/05/2024 10:25:24 PM PST by ponygirl (Stay gold.)
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To: Ronaldus Magnus

That was the original one? Huh. I grew up about a mile from it in E. Bloomington. Only went there twice that I recall, a bit too expensive and sophisticated (lol) for a HS kid. Prior to being Chi Chi’s the site was home to an early discount store; ‘Atlantic City’, or something like that.


16 posted on 12/05/2024 10:48:54 PM PST by cephalopod
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To: Morgana
yes chi chis means tits.

Chi Chi's now intending comeback after going tits up - interesting.

17 posted on 12/05/2024 11:03:50 PM PST by Ahithophel (Communication is an art form susceptible to sudden technical failure)
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To: raccoonradio

Who doesn’t refer to their wife as Tits....aka chi chis.

LOL


18 posted on 12/05/2024 11:23:47 PM PST by srmanuel
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To: raccoonradio

There is a Yabos Tacos in Westerville, Ohio. Yabos has a similar meaning.


19 posted on 12/05/2024 11:25:22 PM PST by Greg123456
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To: All

Welcome back! I wish you a very successful relaunch and hope to see you in my area soon.


20 posted on 12/06/2024 12:31:25 AM PST by mmichaels1970 ( )
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