Cheech reopens restaurant after shutting down 20 years ago
Chi-chi’s Mexican restaurant chain plans a comeback for 2025 after 20 years of holiday, and is looking to revive the nostalgic brand under new ownership.
Straight Arrow News
Chi-Chi’s Mexican restaurant is back, with its first location in over 20 years scheduled to open in Minnesota next week.
The location will open in St. Louis Park on Monday, October 6th, bringing “refreshing designs” and some original and new menu items, the company announced this week.
Added menu items include items such as restaurant quesavilia tacos, as well as Manchego burgers made up of grilled angus beef, Manchego cheese, pico de gallo, avocado and chipotle mayonnaise, according to a news release.
Michael McDermott, son of Chi-chi co-founder Marno McDermott, said the company has announced that it is “more strong than ever.”
“We bring home the food, energy and fun that people love, and now we’re giving a fresh twist for a whole new generation,” he said in the release. “We are extremely grateful to our supporters and investors who helped make this moment possible, and we can’t wait to experience Chi, welcoming both familiar and new faces.”
In October 2003, Chi-chi filed for bankruptcy. This is according to Mahler Clark, a law firm that represented the family in the lawsuit after multiple people got sick due to green onions at a Cheech location in Pennsylvania.
Four people have died, more than 650 people have become ill, and the company has agreed to pay $800,000 to compensate 9,489 people who have become ill after eating at a restaurant, Mahler Clark reported.
The company closed its last US restaurant in 2004. In December 2024, Chiech announced that it had reached an agreement with Hormel Foods, a Minnesota-based global food company that owns Chiech’s trademark, using its name and opening a future location.
What’s new about Chi-chi’s?
According to Chi-chi’s, the St. Louis Park location has more modern decor, a “charming atmosphere” and original menu items that may remember, such as the nachos grand made up of customers’ revived beans, ground beef, cheese, jalapeño, original chimichanga and seafood enchiladas.
The new menu items are:
- Chiki’s Original Chimichanga – Crispy Chimichanga stuffed with beef, chicken, short ribs or red chili peppers, served with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, rice and beans.
- Quesabirria Tacos – Three corn tacos filled with slow-cooked beef, Oaxaca cheese, onions, cilantro and consom dipping sauce.
- Seafood Enchilada – Symptomed shrimp and crab in Kichi’s signature lobster cream sauce. Serve with sour cream, guacamole, beans and rice.
- Manchego Burger – Topped with Ankego cheese, pico de gallo, avocado and chipotle mayonnaise. Serve with fries.
- Original Nachos Grande – House tortilla chips topped with rifleika beans, ground beef, melty cheese and jalapeno.
- El Burro Con Queso – Burrito stuffed with ground beef or shredded chicken, cheese, chili conqueso and ranchero sauce. Choice of beans and rice
Where is the restaurant located?
Chi-Chi’s will open its first location on Monday, October 6th at 11am local time. This restaurant is located at 1602 West End Blvd. in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Diners can make reservations via Opentable.
The restaurant is open:
- Monday to Thursday from 11am to 10pm
- Friday to Saturday from 11am to 11pm
- Sunday – 11am to 9pm
What’s next for Chi-chi?
Chi-chi said the St. Louis Park restaurant will serve as a flagship location for the company’s reboot, with more locations being planned.
More than 2,000 people have invested more than $2.3 million through the stock crowdfunding campaign that the company launched StartEngine, according to the company.
Chi-chi said the campaign will soon be over, but those looking to invest can learn more at www.startengine.com/offering/chi-chis-restaurants.
This story has been updated to add new photos and information.
Contribution: Ahjané Forbes
Saleen Martin is a reporter for the USA Today Now team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Email her to sdmartin@usatoday.com.
