Chi-Chi’s Mexican Restaurant Returns After 20 Years
Chi-Chi’s Mexican Restaurant is officially returning and set to open its doors on October 6 at 1602 West End Blvd. in St Louis Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Nearly 20 years after closing, Chi Chi’s is set to make a comeback in an agreement with Hormel Foods, owner of the CHI-CHI’S trademarks, with Michael McDermott, the son of CHI-CHI’S founder, able to use the CHI-CHI’S name on physical restaurant locations.
While the Mexican restaurant still lives on in grocery stores, its physical locations have been on hiatus for two decades, but now, that dream is coming true, as the beloved restaurant is finally making a highly anticipated comeback. IBISWorld forecasts the Mexican restaurant industry’s revenue to reach $96.4 billion by 2025, with an annual growth rate of 4.7% over the past five years.
The timing couldn’t be better for Chi-Chi’s return. After years of declining foot traffic and sales, the restaurant industry is now experiencing a revival, particularly in the Mexican food category, with U.S. Department of Commerce showing sales of food services and drinking places grew 5.5% year-over-year to $787 billion. This comeback represents more than just nostalgia – it’s backed by solid market data showing strong demand for Mexican cuisine nationwide.
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