The Ames Fan Club

Restaurants and Food => Defunct Restaurants => Topic started by: thedisneystore967 on April 03, 2005, 09:07:07 AM

Title: Chi Chi's
Post by: thedisneystore967 on April 03, 2005, 09:07:07 AM
has anyoneever been 2 a chi-chi's? i remember i refused to go there once,and the next time i was there, it had shut down.....then i remember i was mad at myself becausse i never went there....lol.that chichi's is in a mall in Gathiersburg, Maryland, called Lakeforest Mall...btw,
sorry 'bout that gay post
earlier, i told my friend , and he promised never to post anything like it again.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: HoJofan206 on April 03, 2005, 05:00:36 PM
Chi Chi's was a chain of mexican restaurants that served very bland mexican food (in my opinion).  The one we had in town was NEVER busy.  It lasted 15 to 20 years or so and finally went out of business around 1999.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: AmesNewington on April 05, 2005, 07:02:05 AM
We always kid about the name of the restaurant (and their products) because my 3 year old Pomeranian dog is named Chi-Chi. We didn't know about the restaurant or products until after 2002.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: SomeBeach on April 05, 2005, 11:29:49 AM
Chi-Chis literally means Boobs in Spanish. I'd like them to recycle the Chi-Chi's name as kind of a Hooters concept with Mexican food.

The Chi-Chi's chain disappeared in September 2004. Never ate at one, but I have had some of the products -- their salsa is quite bland.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: thedisneystore967 on April 08, 2005, 06:37:49 PM
actually, the chi chi's chain went out of business cuz somebody got something like AIDS(LOL)  at one of their restaurants ..
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Jag67 on April 08, 2005, 06:46:21 PM
I think it was hepatitis, actually. We used to go to Chi-Chi's quite often, when they were open. My mom's friend liked that place a lot, and we used to meet them there for dinner quite a bit. I remember the restaurant well. It closed around 1999 and was demolished for an IHOP. I still remember the commercials for their restaurants.. "Chi-Chi's..SALSA!!...Can't get enough!!" or something like that. You can still find their salsa in stores.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: store215 on April 08, 2005, 08:56:19 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by thedisneystore967
actually, the chi chi's chain went out of business cuz somebody got something like AIDS(LOL)  at one of their restaurants ..

Umm...here's the '03 News Story:
Officials link Chi-Chi's hepatitis outbreak to green onions
BEAVER, Pa. (AP) ? A hepatitis A outbreak that has killed three people and sickened nearly 600 others who ate at a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant was probably caused by green onions from Mexico, health officials said Friday. But how the scallions became tainted remains unclear.
      A Pittsburgh produce stand owner shows bunches of green onions for sale. He said that sales of the onions have been off by about 50%.    
By Keith Srakocic, AP

All the hepatitis A cases at the restaurant 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh have been linked to green onions, and most of the victims likely contracted it through mild salsa and cheese dip, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The two dishes both used raw or lightly cooked onions.

"All the evidence suggests that people had direct contact with the green onions," said Joel Hersh, epidemiology director for the state Health Department.

It is the nation's biggest known outbreak of hepatitis A.

The CDC stopped short of saying that the green onions in the Pennsylvania outbreak came from one of three Mexican companies known to have supplied the onions blamed for other outbreaks in Tennessee and Georgia.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it was stopping green onion shipments from the Mexican firms at the border for inspection. FDA officials planned a statement, but did not immediately comment on CDC's report.

The contamination could have been caused by anything from a sewage leak in a farm field to feces in a shipper's truck, health officials said. Workers who failed to wash their hands at any stage of the onions' transit from field to the restaurant are another possible culprit.

Chi-Chi's chief operating officer Bill Zavertnik said the company was "gratified" that state officials traced the outbreak to green onions and not to Chi-Chi's employees. He also noted that state officials confirmed there is no "industry-accepted" way to test green onions for hepatitis A or to clean them enough to ensure they are safe.

The restaurant at the Beaver Valley Mall has remained closed since the outbreak was confirmed Nov. 3.

Health officials have said the hepatitis strains in Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Georgia are very similar.

Health officials in Pennsylvania initially suspected that Chi-Chi's employees had failed to wash their hands after using the bathroom ? another common way that hepatitis A is spread. But suspicion soon fell on the green onions, and last weekend the FDA issued a national advisory saying purchased green onions should not be eaten raw.

By then, Chi-Chi's had pulled green onions from its 99 other restaurants in 17 states from Minnesota to the mid-Atlantic.

Unlike Chi-Chi's hot salsa, which is packaged before it arrives at the restaurant, the mild salsa is made partly on site, health officials said.

Hepatitis A is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause fever, nausea, diarrhea, jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Hepatitis A usually clears up on its own in about two months.

More than 9,100 people received antibody shots in the Pennsylvania outbreak to reduce their chances of contracting the disease after exposure.

The restaurant chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 8 in a move unrelated to the outbreak.

On Friday, a bankruptcy judge gave limited approval to Chi-Chi's plans to begin paying some expenses of those sickened in the outbreak ? up to $20,000 per claim.

He did not, however, fully approve Chi-Chi's plan to spend $500,000 on an insurance deductible so the company could tap into as much as $51 million in liability insurance it may need to settle claims.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: HoJofan206 on April 08, 2005, 11:23:42 PM
So is the ENTIRE Chi Chi's company now out of business?
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Jag67 on April 09, 2005, 02:13:58 PM
No, They still sell their salsa in stores, last time I checked. I believe all the restaurants are gone though.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: store215 on April 09, 2005, 04:39:58 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67
No, They still sell their salsa in stores, last time I checked. I believe all the restaurants are gone though.


The Salsa is made by Hormel....it has nothing to do with the chain except I guess Hormel has a contract with use of that name.

The restaurants are all gone, and most are supposed to become Outback Steakhouses
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: d_fife on April 09, 2005, 05:11:36 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321
QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67
No, They still sell their salsa in stores, last time I checked. I believe all the restaurants are gone though.


The Salsa is made by Hormel....it has nothing to do with the chain except I guess Hormel has a contract with use of that name.

The restaurants are all gone, and most are supposed to become Outback Steakhouses

I beleive all the chi chi's are out of business.

WHY, JUST BECAUSE OF ONE RESTUARANT IN ONE CASE. I BELEIVE THAT BECAUSE HOW MANY LAWSUITS WERE ENOUGH TO  CLOSE THE COMPANY FOR ONE RESTUARANT.

IF I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WITH HEPATITIS, I WOULD BE SO MAD I WOULD BURN THE RESTURAnt. IS IT TRUE THAT ONCE YOU HAVE IT YOU ARE A CARRIER.

I SAW A CHI CHi's in Framingham Mass and WEst Springfield MAss. The chi chi's in fRamingham was something else when I went there in late October 2003.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: HoJofan206 on April 15, 2005, 01:04:10 AM
I do beleive ALL of the Chi Chi stores are out of business at this point
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on April 28, 2005, 03:42:16 PM
Chi Chi's is gone and the name Chi Chi's Means Boobs in Spanish:insane: i have no idea why someone would name it Boobs any way the closed in they filed for ch11 in 2003 and closed fro good in sep 2004 and im not suprised eather cause of all the Law sutes they got agest them beacuse of the hepatitis outbreak lol that would really bring a Chain out of bizz im just luckey i never ate there
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: tokensafari on May 02, 2005, 09:54:31 PM
Ours was tore down to make way for an outdoor mall. It was a great place to eat!!
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Jag67 on May 03, 2005, 05:34:17 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
Chi Chi's is gone and the name Chi Chi's Means Boobs in Spanish

Either somebody was obsessed with girls, or didn't know.:insane:
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 25, 2005, 06:40:11 AM
hears there Salsa
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 25, 2005, 06:40:30 AM
:bounce:
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 25, 2005, 06:40:58 AM
all the stuff they ut in it
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 25, 2005, 06:41:41 AM
and hear i am wit the Chi Chis Slasa
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 25, 2005, 09:23:10 PM
im scred to eta that salsa afetr what i heard happed:insane:
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Jag67 on May 25, 2005, 09:25:22 PM
Nahh..ChiChis salsa is made by hormel...the stuff sold at restaurants was made by...ChiChis!!!
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 25, 2005, 09:29:59 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67
Nahh..ChiChis salsa is made by hormel...the stuff sold at restaurants was made by...ChiChis!!!

o lol
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: storehistoryguy on July 29, 2005, 02:58:10 PM
Chi Chi's is dead now.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on July 29, 2005, 07:27:02 PM
cool pics i lik the logo
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: storehistoryguy on January 07, 2006, 09:49:24 AM
A Chi-Chis in the early 80's. Apparently it was lost to a fire some point in the future. I believe it was in Cambridge Nj..

(http://homepage.mac.com/aglee/2001/2001-02-11-old-cambridge/chi-chis.jpg)
http://homepage.mac.com/aglee/2001/2001-02-11-old-cambridge/
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: storehistoryguy on January 07, 2006, 09:56:16 AM
(http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/HEALTH/conditions/11/15/hepatitis.outbreak.ap/story.vert.hepatitis.ap.jpg)
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/11/15/hepatitis.outbreak.ap/
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: storehistoryguy on January 07, 2006, 09:58:15 AM
Terre-Haute, Indiana.

(http://www.enews7.com/indiana/terre-haute/super-8-motel-terre-haute-8.jpg)
http://www.enews7.com/indiana/terre-haute/super-8-motel-terre-haute.htm
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: d_fife on January 11, 2006, 09:54:23 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by HoJofan206
So is the ENTIRE Chi Chi's company now out of business?

last summer I saw a Chi Chi's in enfield connecticut vacant and saw one in Framingham mass a  few years ago. it is amasing how oen chi chi's restuarant outbreak can shut the chain down, but then 500 customers got sick.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: d_fife on January 20, 2006, 10:09:04 PM
here is a chi chi's in east brunswick nj

from http://www.siteride.com/srpl/p_snapshot.pl?lm=listing&resbox=1137811977&subNum=10215000377
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: d_fife on February 19, 2006, 05:27:36 PM
here is the chi chi's in woodbridge new jersey

from http://www.siteride.com/srpl/p_snapshot.pl?lm=listing&resbox=1140387955&subNum=10215000048
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: d_fife on February 19, 2006, 08:09:13 PM
here is the chi chi's in ledgewood new jersey

from http://www.siteride.com/srpl/p_snapshot.pl?lm=listing&resbox=1140397615&subNum=50208000184
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: d_fife on May 12, 2006, 12:02:10 AM
here is a closed chi chi's in johnson city ny (Across the oakdale mall)
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Ameskid on May 12, 2006, 02:45:12 PM
My Chi-Chi's was demolished and replaced by a Smokey Bones. SB is so much better! I am pretty sure that they kept the original post and/or sign, and just repainted it.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Caldor1999 on July 29, 2006, 07:45:11 PM
were there any chi chi's inm westchster county ny or anywere near hear and dose anyone have any pics of one idd liek to see one
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: d_fife on August 09, 2006, 04:44:05 PM
there used to be ones in framington and west springfield mass
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: patk on November 01, 2007, 06:05:43 PM
so thats y chi chi's closed the one by me is now a Walgreens :goodidea:
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: EddieJ1984 on February 16, 2011, 12:08:54 AM
The old Chi Chi's by Franklin Mills here in philly was on fire Jan 24th.
I don't think the cause of it has been reported yet.
heres a picture of it on fire from 6abc WPVI's website
(http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/wpvi/cms_exf_2007/news/local/7916610_448x252.jpg)
And here's a pic I took today of what remains.
(http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9925/chichiburnt.jpg)
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Pikapower on July 07, 2011, 06:18:31 PM
The Chi-Chi's on Maple road in Amherst, NY near North Bailey Ave. was knocked down for an IHOP.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: zonemad96 on February 17, 2014, 12:40:51 AM
Their is a used to be a restaurant in Westminster, MD that completely ripped off the Chi Chi's logo.
(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s540/zonezilla/chiripp_zps92df14f9.png) (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/zonezilla/media/chiripp_zps92df14f9.png.html)
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: TheFugitive on February 17, 2014, 10:43:06 AM
Quote from: Caldor1999 on April 28, 2005, 03:42:16 PM
Chi Chi's is gone and the name Chi Chi's Means Boobs in Spanish:insane: i have no idea why someone would name it Boobs any way the closed in they filed for ch11 in 2003 and closed fro good in sep 2004 and im not suprised eather cause of all the Law sutes they got agest them beacuse of the hepatitis outbreak lol that would really bring a Chain out of bizz im just luckey i never ate there

I can explain.  My brother worked at one when they first opened.  One of their original owners was
Max McGee, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver, and MVP of Super Bowl I.  Mrs. McGee apparently
had some very large breasts, and McGee apparently decided based on that to go with the name Chi-Chi's.

Max McGee sadly passed away a few years ago when he fell while trying to clear snow off the roof of his home.

Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: Hudsons81 on October 04, 2015, 08:33:50 PM
This was the former Chi-Chi's in Southgate, Michigan. It lasted from the 1980's until 2003, when it was shuttered during a series of closures leading up to the chain's physical retail demise the following year. Later Malarkey's, it became Rosie O'Grady's in early 2014. Photo courtesy of the Downriver Things (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92760331@N04/) Flickr page.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5550/9049096475_7921742ea3_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: TheFugitive on November 11, 2015, 04:54:49 PM
When I lived at home I shared a room with my brother.  He worked at Chi Chi's at the time.

After about a year of working in the Chi Chi's kitchen my brother began to actually
SMELL like a burrito.  That scent got into his clothes, into his hair, into his bloodstream...
even after changing and showering he smelled like a burrito!  He'd lift weights and start
to sweat....burrito!  It was really, really strange.

They apparently used some very powerful spices and seasonings that lingered on.
He had been working someplace else as a bartender for about six months before
the smell completely went away.
Title: Re: Chi Chi's
Post by: TheFugitive on January 13, 2023, 01:49:30 PM
I was talking to my brother the other day and he reminded me of this funny story from his days of working at ChiChi's.

As you would expect in a Mexican restaurant they used to order big plastic bags of pre-shredded lettuce to cut down on their prep time.  My brother was working in the kitchen when someone on the other side of the kitchen asked him to get him a bag of lettuce.

My brother took one out of the cooler and tossed it to him.  Unfortunately he tossed it a bit too high and it went up and made contact with a ceiling fan.

The bag immediately burst and the fan sent shredded lettuce flying all over the kitchen.

My brother was written-up by the shift manager for this.  He showed me a copy of the write-up he received.  What follows is a very accurate paraphrase.

"Bill threw a f***ing bag of f***ing lettuce into the f***ing ceiling fan in the middle of f***ing dinner rush.  It f***ing exploded and blew f***ing lettuce all over the f***ing kitchen.  It f***ing sucked."

I have to presume the guy meant it as a joke as I could not imagine he'd actually put something with all of those F-bombs into my brother's personnel file.