Fire up those fried ice cream cravings: Construction on the first new Chi-Chi’s in 20 years will start next month.
The chain’s debut will be in St. Louis Park (1602 West End Blvd.) and is the work of restaurateur Michael McDermott, the son of Chi-Chi’s co-founder Marno McDermott. The new era of the Tex-Mex eatery expects to welcome guests before the end of 2025.
“We’re bringing back the food, the energy, and the fun that made Chi-Chi’s a household name and giving it a fresh twist for a whole new generation,” McDermott said in a statement.
Chi-Chi’s will replace McDermott’s Rojo Mexican Grill at the Shops at West End, which will close Aug. 31 to allow the transformation to begin. Local design firm Shea will give the interior a fresh look with vibrant decor and a “lively atmosphere.”
The Rojo Mexican Grill at the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove will remain open.
The onetime national chain strikes a nostalgic chord for diners of a certain age. Chi-Chi’s began in Richfield in 1975, when former Green Bay Packers player Max McGee and Marno McDermott opened the first restaurant. Known for a Midwestern take on Mexican cuisine, the menu was stacked with cheesy entrees of ample size, Minnesota-friendly spice levels and a signature deep-fried ice cream dessert.
Chi-Chi’s grew to some 200 locations at its heyday before it started to dwindle; its final store closed in 2004.
To make his dream of bringing it all back a reality, McDermott turned to crowdfunding through the investor-seeking website StartEngine. The campaign has raised more than $2 million.
