NJ Restaurant that Vanished Suddenly Returning 20 Years Later

It's often said that restaurants are the most difficult businesses to open and maintain long-term success.

This is true locally but also on the local level.

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Sadly, it's not unusual to see restaurants come and go.

I seemed to notice more restaurant closings after the pandemic.

It was tragic to see so many hard-working people try to endure COVID-19 only to have to shut down.

Recently, chains like Ruby Tuesday, TGI Fridays, and Applebee’s have drastically reduced the number of their locations.

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Why are chain restaurants closing?

The answer is simple. They are losing diners.

These customers are flocking to "fast-casual" chains that offer even faster service and, in many cases, cheaper meals.

Take Chipotle, for example. Sure, you won't get the same sit-down atmosphere, but you can get fresh food fast.

It surprised me to learn about a chain restaurant returning from the dead. Their demise was not pretty nearly 20 years ago.

julien Tromeur

This eatery has the title "largest hepatitis A outbreak in U.S. history."

According to Restaurant Business, 660 people got sick, and four folks even died.

Over 300 sued this restaurant for damages, which led to the owners declaring bankruptcy soon after.

Remember Chi-Chi's?

Nostaljack at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant created in 1975 by former Green Bay Packers player Max McGee and businessman Marno McDermott.

At its peak, Chi-Chi's was operating in over 200 locations nationwide.

Chi-Chi's was a fairly popular spot in New Jersey with numerous locations.

Cherry Hill - 2301 Route 38
Deptford - 1709 Deptford Center Rd
East Brunswick - 335 NJ-18
Iselin - 625 Route 1 at Gill Lane
Pleasantville - 6723 Black Horse Pike
Secaucus - 700 Plaza Dr
Succasunna - 275 NJ-10

Thanks to Hormel, the Chi-Chi's name has lived on. They slapped the Chi-Chi's name on chips and salsa that you can purchase at any grocery store.

Now, the son of Marno McDermott is looking to revive one of his family's iconic brands.

McDermott, who is the founder of Kona Grill and Rojo Mexican Grill, said:

We have seen the impact our restaurant has had on individuals and families across the country and believe there is a strong opportunity to bring the brand back in a way that resonates with today's consumer.

No word yet on where Chi-Chi's will be relaunching in New Jersey, but I'll keep you posted.

50 Most Popular Chain Restaurants in America

YouGov investigated the most popular dining brands in the country, and Stacker compiled the list to give readers context on the findings. Read on to look through America's vast and divergent variety of restaurants—maybe you'll even find a favorite or two.

Gallery Credit: Paul Feinstein