191:
474:
180:
27:
452:
bid $ 42.5 million for the rights to buy its choice of Chi-Chi's 76 properties, but did not purchase the Chi-Chi's name, operations, or recipes. On the weekend of
September 18, 2004, Chi-Chi's closed all 65 of its remaining restaurants. Outback had hoped to convert many of the properties to its own
318:
chain founded in the United States in 1976, which continued in Europe only as a single restaurant after the North
American owner declared bankruptcy and folded in 2004, or to its namesake brand of Mexican food grocery products produced and marketed when the original North American restaurant chain
510:
acquired the rights to produce and market Chi-Chi's branded salsa and related products in the United States. By 1996, Hormel was making $ 60-million annually from this product line. In 2009, Hormel formed a 50%-50% joint venture with Mexico-based food manufacturer Herdez Del Fuerte called MegaMex
497:
The last snapshot of the
European chain's official website in January 2022 showed that the company had three locations left, two in Liege and one in Brugge, all in Belgium. There is no evidence that the website was active much beyond May 2022. The Brugge location announced on Facebook that it was
413:
Chi-Chi's last owner while the company was still in business in the United States and Canada was
Prandium Inc., which had filed for bankruptcy several times, including in 1993 as Restaurant Enterprises Group Inc. and again in 2002 as Prandium. On October 8, 2003, Chi-Chi's and
1167:
445:, about 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. Chi-Chi's settled the hepatitis A lawsuits by July 2004. At the time the suits were settled, Chi-Chi's had only 65 restaurants, fewer than half of the number of four years prior.
519:
brands. Besides salsas, the Chi-Chi's brand also include dips, tortillas, tortilla chips and taco seasoning mixes. Chi-Chi's branded food products are usually found in major supermarkets and discount stores.
962:
511:
Foods, LLC, to manufacture and distribute
Mexican food products in the United States. The Chi-Chi's brand was placed in this new company along with other related food brands such as Herdez,
1395:
918:
481:
In 2002, Francis Leroy of
Belgium purchased the master franchise for Belgium, and later the master franchises for Europe in 2008, North Africa in 2011, and China in 2012.
965:[The first Chi-Chi's in Scandinavia has opened in Aarhus: Jeppe Stærk and Henrik Overgaard will open another five restaurants in Denmark and 40 in Scandinavia].
787:
1380:
970:
817:
1061:
963:"Første Chi-Chi's i Skandinavien er åbnet i Aarhus: Jeppe Stærk og Henrik Overgaard vil åbne yderligere fem restauranter i Danmark og 40 i Skandinavien"
709:
1430:
851:
Lockyer, Sarah E. (October 4, 2004). "Chi-Chi's Inc. said adios last month and shuttered till 65 of its
Mexican dinnerhouses as Outback Steakhouse I".
1400:
1425:
484:
The
European-based company tried to expand into Denmark in 2011 but no reliable citation can be found when the Danish restaurants were closed.
1420:
523:
In April 2021, MegaMex hired a TikTok personality to be their Chi-Chi's brand ambassador for that year's Cinco de Mayo advertising period.
999:
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419:
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area, including high school students who caught the disease from the original victims. The hepatitis was traced back to
1017:
610:"Chi-Chi's Inc. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Chi-Chi's Inc"
555:
422:
bankruptcy themselves. The flagship Chi-Chi's restaurant in
Richfield, Minnesota was put up for sale in October 2003.
636:
1205:
402:
1168:"The Makers of the CHI-CHI'S® Brand Announce First-Ever "Chief Tortilla Officer" in Celebration of Cinco de Mayo"
377:) in early August, 1976. McDermott had previously founded the Zapata fast-food Mexican chain, which later became
580:
1080:
716:
866:
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1405:
1375:
688:
458:
1329:
662:
532:
190:
1339:
684:
1101:
609:
425:
In
November 2003, a month after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Chi-Chi's was hit with the largest
405:. The company's slogans were "A celebration of food" and, later, "Life always needs a little salsa."
1039:
454:
430:
1062:"Misschien hadden jullie het al vernomen, maar het gaat niet zo goed met de gezondheid van Chris"
658:
462:
487:
In the first half of 2015, the chain in Belgium had to close five under-performing restaurants.
429:
outbreak in American history, with at least four deaths and 660 other victims of illness in the
1249:
1147:
1287:
512:
401:
In 2001, Chi-Chi's applied for a trademark on the word "salsafication" but was denied by the
1334:
1308:
1198:
442:
390:
370:
361:
was founded by restaurateur Marno McDermott (his wife's nickname was "Chi Chi") and former
350:
but exited those countries in 2004, and closed their German and Belgian locations in 2022.
238:
473:
8:
338:, that is the only remnant left of a much larger chain. The company was briefly owned by
449:
438:
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1228:
946:
362:
408:
339:
389:. When Frank took leadership, the chain moved its headquarters to his hometown of
1191:
1085:
331:
311:
283:
105:
1064:[You may have already heard, but Chris's health is not doing so well.].
818:"Business at Beaver Valley Mall Chi-Chi's nearly back - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
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246:
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restaurants, but instead eventually sold the majority of the properties to
386:
1349:
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216:
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315:
195:
The front of a shuttered Chi-Chi's restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia (
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366:
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179:
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26:
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42:
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Bankruptcy, hepatitis A, and closure in United States and Canada
369:. The first restaurant opened at 7717 Nicollet Avenue South, in
319:
owner sold the rights to use its name on said products in 1987.
1183:
347:
838:. July 12, 2004. FindArticles.com. Accessed October 24, 2007.
685:"Chi-Chi's closes oldest store here as pullback continues"
1047:
382:
294:
137:
393:. By March 1995, the chain had grown to 210 locations.
1396:
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2003
1002:[Chi-Chi's: Tex Mex Restaurant comes to us].
988:[Chi-Chi's cleans up in Belgium] (in French).
494:
by opening their first restaurant in Vienna in 2018.
1102:"Hormel, Herdez Del Fuerte form U.S. food venture"
715:. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Archived from
381:. From 1977 to 1986, the chain was run by former
275:Bankruptcy (as restaurants in the U.S. and Canada)
1093:
919:"Chi-Chi's plans $ 35.2m sale of outlets, leases"
850:
631:
629:
1367:
779:
749:
659:"Frank exits Chi-Chi's, plans early retirement"
1381:Defunct restaurant chains in the United States
1081:"Hormel joins forces with Mexican salsa maker"
656:
626:
1199:
1072:
1000:"Chi-Chi's: Tex Mex Restaurant kommt zu uns"
757:"Hepatitis A outbreak claims its 4th victim"
396:
48:Mexican-style grocery items (United States)
1206:
1192:
846:
844:
788:"Hepatitis A outbreak spreads to students"
650:
334:restaurant currently operating in Vienna,
1431:American companies disestablished in 2004
1145:
1006:(in Austrian German). September 17, 2018.
893:"Outback Steakhouse to rebrand Chi-Chi's"
738:
736:
418:, another Prandium subsidiary, filed for
1401:Defunct restaurants in the United States
472:
1099:
1078:
841:
828:
682:
477:Chi-Chi's restaurant in Brussels (2011)
267:(as restaurants in the U.S. and Canada)
1426:American companies established in 1975
1368:
986:"Chi-Chi's fait le ménage en Belgique"
983:
733:
556:"What the Hell Happened to Chi-Chi's?"
1187:
1079:Lazarus, George (February 26, 1996).
710:"Salsafication trademark application"
676:
939:
550:
548:
342:The chain also once operated in the
1421:2004 disestablishments in Minnesota
1146:Caramanna, Carly (March 11, 2021).
794:. December 14, 2003. Archived from
746:October 20, 2003. FindArticles.com.
657:Schoifet, Mark (January 27, 1986).
322:
62:unclear (European restaurant chain)
13:
1391:Restaurants disestablished in 2004
960:
178:
25:
14:
1442:
545:
1416:1975 establishments in Minnesota
1213:
944:[The gringo from here].
501:
403:Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
189:
1386:Restaurants established in 1975
1160:
1148:"The Untold Truth Of Chi-Chi's"
1139:
1114:
1100:Dorfman, Brad (June 19, 2009).
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992:
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954:
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911:
885:
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763:. April 4, 2004. Archived from
683:Benmour, Eric (June 14, 1996).
1068:(in Dutch). September 2, 2022.
984:Godard, Sarah (May 22, 2015).
871:The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida)
702:
602:
573:
310:can either refer to a defunct
1:
1271:(a joint venture with Herdez)
925:. 5 July 2004. Archived from
867:"Outback to Buy 76 Chi-Chi's"
792:Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
761:Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
538:
196:
122:United States (grocery items)
82:United States (grocery items)
65:MegaMex Foods (grocery items)
940:Anne, Masset (May 5, 2014).
689:Business First of Louisville
614:www.referenceforbusiness.com
459:real estate investment trust
7:
969:(in Danish). Archived from
533:List of Tex-Mex restaurants
526:
353:
228:; 48 years ago
95:; 48 years ago
10:
1449:
1340:Spam (Monty Python sketch)
744:Nation's Restaurant News.'
498:closing in October 2022.
79:Belgium (restaurant chain)
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45:restaurant chain (Europe)
35:
24:
923:Nation's Restaurant News
853:Nation's Restaurant News
836:Nation's Restaurant News
663:Nation's Restaurant News
490:Chi-Chi's expanded into
455:Kimco Realty Corporation
397:Management and marketing
16:Mexican restaurant chain
1330:1985–1986 Hormel strike
822:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
463:New Hyde Park, New York
256:September 18, 2004
478:
258:; 19 years ago
183:
30:
581:"Chi-Chi's Brand FAQ"
476:
182:
29:
1335:Hormel Historic Home
1309:Columbus Craft Meats
824:. February 15, 2004.
443:Monaca, Pennsylvania
437:at the Chi-Chi's at
371:Richfield, Minnesota
119:Europe (restaurants)
108:-food US restaurant)
1411:Hormel Foods brands
1406:Tex-Mex restaurants
1376:Mexican restaurants
899:. 23 September 2004
798:on 25 December 2016
174:
21:
967:Lokalavisen Aarhus
767:on August 12, 2017
639:. Funding Universe
479:
450:Outback Steakhouse
439:Beaver Valley Mall
184:
170:
31:
19:
1363:
1362:
1304:Burke Corporation
1176:. April 30, 2021.
947:La Libre Belgique
942:"Le gringo d'ici"
929:on 29 April 2014.
363:Green Bay Packers
305:
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1046:. Archived from
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1024:. Archived from
1022:Chi-Chi's Europe
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587:. Archived from
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448:In August 2004,
340:Tumbleweed, Inc.
323:Restaurant chain
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226:August 1976
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1269:MegaMex brands
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873:. 5 August 2004
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742:Spector, Amy.
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637:"Chi-Chi's Inc"
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1231:(discontinued)
1229:Frank 'n Stuff
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1092:
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1050:on 2022-05-20.
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1028:on 2022-01-26.
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1126:MegaMex Foods
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1019:
1018:"Restaurants"
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1005:
1004:OE24 Netzwerk
1001:
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739:
737:
722:on 2006-10-03
718:
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690:
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664:
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638:
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591:on 2017-08-20
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502:Grocery brand
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373:(a suburb of
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1297:Subsidiaries
1282:
1215:Hormel Foods
1171:
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1141:
1129:. Retrieved
1125:
1116:
1105:
1095:
1084:
1074:
1065:
1056:
1048:the original
1043:
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1026:the original
1021:
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994:
979:
971:the original
966:
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950:(in French).
945:
935:
927:the original
922:
913:
901:. Retrieved
896:
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875:. Retrieved
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835:
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800:. Retrieved
796:the original
791:
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769:. Retrieved
765:the original
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743:
724:. Retrieved
717:the original
704:
692:. Retrieved
678:
666:. Retrieved
652:
641:. Retrieved
617:. Retrieved
613:
604:
593:. Retrieved
589:the original
585:Hormel Foods
575:
564:. Retrieved
562:. 2022-10-12
559:
522:
508:Hormel Foods
505:
496:
489:
486:
483:
480:
447:
435:green onions
424:
412:
400:
387:Shelly Frank
358:
357:
330:is a single
327:
326:
307:
306:
284:Mexican food
205:Company type
36:Product type
1350:Spam Museum
1288:La Victoria
1260:Stagg Chili
1122:"Chi-Chi's"
1040:"Chi-Chi's"
903:25 December
877:25 December
802:25 December
771:October 24,
560:The Takeout
513:La Victoria
461:company in
427:hepatitis A
416:Koo Koo Roo
375:Minneapolis
217:Restaurants
1370:Categories
1153:Mashed.com
726:2007-05-16
643:2008-10-09
619:2017-08-21
595:2017-11-20
566:2023-02-11
539:References
431:Pittsburgh
420:Chapter 11
391:Louisville
385:executive
316:restaurant
263:2004-09-18
90:Introduced
1355:Spamarama
1314:CytoSport
1283:Chi-Chi's
897:USA Today
506:In 1987,
367:Max McGee
359:Chi-Chi's
328:Chi-Chi's
308:Chi-Chi's
243:Minnesota
239:Richfield
171:Chi-Chi's
156:/chi-chis
20:Chi-Chi's
1345:Spam Jam
1245:Planters
1240:Justin's
1235:Jennie-O
527:See also
354:Founding
297:.chichis
280:Products
213:Industry
140:.chichis
1173:WFMZ-TV
1131:May 11,
1107:Reuters
694:July 2,
668:July 2,
492:Austria
379:Zantigo
365:player
336:Austria
332:Mexican
312:Mexican
290:Website
261: (
253:Defunct
233:1976-08
231: (
223:Founded
208:Private
152:.salsas
130:Website
113:Markets
106:Mexican
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517:Búfalo
469:Europe
348:Canada
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713:(PDF)
441:near
314:food
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1255:Spam
1133:2021
905:2016
879:2016
804:2016
773:2007
696:2010
670:2010
515:and
457:, a
346:and
272:Fate
247:U.S.
154:.com
104:(as
100:1976
93:1976
383:KFC
299:.at
295:www
150:www
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138:www
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