chi-chi's closings

quote:

Originally posted by rob1

jcohen sorry but your friend cant turn in his gift certificates in
anywere, think as long as hormal is making money on the salsa you
see it in the stores. I worked at chi chi's brookfield,wi. when you
drive by that location they have all lights on just like its open.
been good 2 months since its closed
bob

So there's no way to contact corporate and there's nothing he can do?

If that's true, that definitely sucks, but I suppose it isn't too much of a surprise. Thanks for replying!

Hey BuffaloBob! Can you help me out with the Hot Garden Salsa recipe since you worked there for fourteen years?????
PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE..........I need to know where did Chi Chi's get the hot garden salsa spice packet for this recipe at??????

quote:

Originally posted by BuffaloBob

I worked at Chi-Chi's for fourteen years. We really had something good in the early 80's a great product great service fun place. The chain was actually started by Green Bay Packer Max Mgee in 1976. Although the chain when to hell due to buy out after buy out, It was a great place to work.

I had the oportunity to open 14 stores over-seas from Europe to Asia even the Middle-East. Wonder if they're still open over there

quote:

Originally posted by marcbla

The chi-chi's locations in wilkes-barre and whitehall penna have both closed, does anybody have any info? did more locations close? I'm sure the recent bad press about people getting sick at their restaurants didn't help, but i'm wondering how widespread the closings are.

The chi-chi's that was in Mishawaka,Indiana closed about 7 0r 8 years ago, this one was 18 miles from my house, the only other chi-chi's in this area is in Kalamazoo, Michigan whicj is 55 miles from my house. Neither had good food, but the one in Mishawaka had tough competion from a regional Mexican Resturant called "Hacienda". Somebody at chi-chi's didn't do their homework, there was no way Chi-chi's with their poor food could complete with Hacienda that has OUTSTANDING Food!!

Hacienda's website: www.haciendafiesta.com

email adress; haciendahq@haciendafiesta.com

Garry

quote:

Originally posted by Grampy

I have a stash of Bon Vivant Vichysoise soup if you are hungry.

Hey, no wonder the Chi-Chi's restaurants along with the ground Round went out of business...they just happened to be owned by Bon Vivant, it looks like, and they probably had those tainted cans of vichysoisse which they probably put in the food and slipped the customers a mickey. Not good! I was just so happy to see the Ground Round go; I never really liked the place. I have never been in a Chi-Chi's s I can't complain about that place.

quote:

Originally posted by Danmel

quote:

Originally posted by Grampy

I have a stash of Bon Vivant Vichysoise soup if you are hungry.

Wow! Somebody else remembers that - when did that happen- 1975? Nothing like a case of botulism to ruin your dday!

Yo, Gramps, I do believe it was in 1971

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by Grampy

I have a stash of Bon Vivant Vichysoise soup if you are hungry.

Oh my lord, a 33 year old reference....

Bon Vivant is now history; the Moore and company now owns it.

I am happy to see Chi-Chi's and the ground round go; they were two of the most grossest places in the world to eat. I'm from Delaware, and all the establishments on the 202 route are gross! The place to be is Route 13 in New Castle.

I had friends who waited and bussed tables in the Chi Chi's in Timonium, Maryland in high school (late 1980s). We used to love the place, and very much missed it when they took their "special beef" chimichangas off the menu. "Special beef" was a brisket, apparently. But ground beef is cheaper, so they dropped the good stuff. However, my friends confided that it was still possible to special-order "special beef" chimis, because they still had it in the kitchen. It was an indredient in one of the sauces or sommat. However, I never really had the nerve to ask for it, so we just quit going.

The one exception was when we went to one in Springfield, VA. My husband was happily eating when he suddenly found half a toothpick in his food. With the frilly plastic on it. We complained, and they took the price of his meal off the bill. Apparently those toothpics are used in the kitchen to keep plastic wrap from sticking to the meat, or something. Bleah. He was lucky he wasn't injured.

Anyway, I've got mixed feelings about seeing them go. Mexican food (or, well, "Mexican" food) has a warm comfort-food feel to it. It may not be truly authentic, but gosh I loved those refried beans and fried tortillas. I refuse to patronize Taco Hell.

I too used to love to go to Chi-Chi's in the early 90's.. favorite was the Lone Star Steak or something like that, but shortly after that they went to hell everywhere not too sure why, but seems from reading here it is due to mis-management and numerous ownership changes.
Jennie give Don Pablos a try, they are very good and similar to Chi-Chi's in a lot of ways. Still not as good as your local small authenic Mexican (not TEX-MEX Crap) but very good comfort food non the less!!!

http://www.donpablos.com/home/p_home.cfm

quote:

Originally posted by Jennie

I had friends who waited and bussed tables in the Chi Chi's in Timonium, Maryland in high school (late 1980s). We used to love the place, and very much missed it when they took their "special beef" chimichangas off the menu. "Special beef" was a brisket, apparently. But ground beef is cheaper, so they dropped the good stuff. However, my friends confided that it was still possible to special-order "special beef" chimis, because they still had it in the kitchen. It was an indredient in one of the sauces or sommat. However, I never really had the nerve to ask for it, so we just quit going.

The one exception was when we went to one in Springfield, VA. My husband was happily eating when he suddenly found half a toothpick in his food. With the frilly plastic on it. We complained, and they took the price of his meal off the bill. Apparently those toothpics are used in the kitchen to keep plastic wrap from sticking to the meat, or something. Bleah. He was lucky he wasn't injured.

Anyway, I've got mixed feelings about seeing them go. Mexican food (or, well, "Mexican" food) has a warm comfort-food feel to it. It may not be truly authentic, but gosh I loved those refried beans and fried tortillas. I refuse to patronize Taco Hell.

quote:

Originally posted by jcohen

quote:

Originally posted by rob1

jcohen sorry but your friend cant turn in his gift certificates in
anywere, think as long as hormal is making money on the salsa you
see it in the stores. I worked at chi chi's brookfield,wi. when you
drive by that location they have all lights on just like its open.
been good 2 months since its closed
bob

So there's no way to contact corporate and there's nothing he can do?

If that's true, that definitely sucks, but I suppose it isn't too much of a surprise. Thanks for replying!

You may want to try Prandium, Inc. the parent company. Not sure how helpful they will be or if they are even open still - had a couple other holdings - website prandium.com. The likelihood of getting a refund is probably slim since they (prandium) went bankrupt as well. Prandium - from the Latin "of or dealing with the meal" - their fake front of a company name to hold companies like Chi-Chi's. We all just rolled our eyes and even chuckled when Kevin seriously told us that a group of company executives took three months to come up with the name. Where serving fun is the main course - hmmmm - sounds like green onions and hepatitus were the main courses.

The Chi-Chi's in Lexington was a place we loved to go as teenagers, and it was always packed, because it was basically the first "sit down" full service Mexican place and not fast food like Taco Tico, but when the authentic places started arriving we hit the door! It had a pretty long life in Lexington, but has gone the way of the sparrow along with other chains like Buckhead Mountain Grill, Pizzaria Uno, Mr. Steak, York Steak House, Darryls, etc. etc.
What's good though is El Chico's --- I think it's a chain but am not sure.

Andrea

quote:

Originally posted by saps

Chi-Chi's has been making people sick for years. It's the Mexican Olive Garden.

This is the funniest thing I've read in awhile. Thank you for that.

I am sorry for the jobs lost, but for good Mexican food in Brookfield, Wis area, go west to Waukesha. Casa Del Rio is the best in town, hands down. Maybe it's just me, but I like to see actual Mexicans eating @ a Mexican restaurant.

I'm with you SD.

Does anyone know the lyrics to the Chi-chi's birthday song????

What about Chi Chi's Hot Garden Style Salsa?

The Chi-Chi's Birthday song was

"It's your birthday
It's your birthday
happy birthday to our guest
It's your birthday it's your birthday
Chi-Chi's wishes you the best
OLAH "