For years after Chi-Chi’s closed at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, the former Mexican restaurant remained largely untouched, providing a time capsule from the mall’s earlier days. Now, both the restaurant and Lakeforest itself have entered new chapters: the former mall has been demolished, while Chi-Chi’s has officially made a comeback.
Lakeforest Mall closed permanently on March 31, 2023, after nearly 45 years in Gaithersburg. The property has since been demolished to make way for a major mixed-use redevelopment planned for the site.
Before demolition, the former Chi-Chi’s remained vacant inside the mall after closing in the early 2000s. During an auction of Lakeforest’s contents, The MoCo Show got a rare look inside the abandoned restaurant, which still contained remnants of the chain’s distinctive décor years after its closure (video below)…