DALLAS — A popular casual dining staple is embracing its Dallas roots with a major throwback. Chili’s Grill & Bar is rolling out a brand-wide refresh to give its restaurants a retro look, bringing back nostalgic elements from its early days.
The redesign features a return to the classic red booths and iconic tiled tables that long-time patrons will remember. Fans of the chain in North Texas have likely already seen the fresh look. Dallas served as the testing ground for the redesign, hosting four prototype restaurants as part of the brand’s “test and learn” process.
Now, the retro concept is expanding nationwide. Starting next year, Chili’s aims to remodel about 10% of its roughly 1,200 U.S. restaurants each year. The company plans to continue this rolling rollout until every restaurant is fully renovated.
For North Texans, the nostalgic makeover hits close to home. Chili’s got its start right here in Dallas back in 1975, when founder Larry Lavine opened the very first location in a converted post office on Greenville Avenue at Meadow Road…