Chi-Chi's was a cheesy (no pun intended) Mexican restaurant chain founded by ex-Green Bay Packer Max McGee (I have an idea in my head that it was started in MN, home of McGee, who recently died, but I could be wrong).Mexican food was not so popular in the Upper Midwest for years, and when Chi-Chi's started to spread, our Spanish class was taken there (and ordered to speak Spanish, I think, which was probably the most Spanish that chain has ever seen). We were thrilled -- a field trip that was really a trip to a restaurant, during the school day, with all our friends? Also, no matter how non-authentic the tacos and chimichangas were, you've got to think we were one up on the German and French classes -- and this comes from a lover of German food!
There's also a wonderful in-joke among my friends about Chi-Chi's. We used to organize big group trips to the one in Richfield, MN, and our friend Bob would always, always ask what pico de gallo was. He knew what it was -- we all did -- but it seemed apparent the wait staff had been taught a scripted answer to this, and they never failed to recite it exactly the same way: "It's a spicy Mexican relish! It means 'beak of the rooster'!"
This was just a fun in-friend joke until one day when I was working at my magazine job and a friend and co-worker dragged into my office. "Can I help you?" I asked. She must have been working on one of our food-supply company magazines, because she said -- and I SWEAR this happened -- "Only if you can tell me what pico de gallo (which she pronounced gal-o) is."
Never let it be said I passed up a free joke. I chirped "It's a spicy Mexican relish! It means 'beak of the rooster'!"
I think from then on she thought I was the smartest person ALIVE.
Anyway, this site chronicles Creepy, Abandoned Chi-Chi's, kind of a similar thing to what Not Fooling Anybody does with all recognizable chains that have become something else. I love it. At least one appears to have become a homeless guy's home.
9 comments:
Our Chi-Chi's became an 'Irish sports pub' a couple of years ago. It's about as authentically Irish as Chi-Chi's was Mexican, so at least some tradition lives on.
Chi-Chis was the place I discovered fried ice cream as a child. And thus began my life long love of that sweet, sweet dessert.
Another use for old Chi-Chi's in Minneapolis is to turn them into a Dim Sum resturant. This one is pretty darn good.
Well, in Texas, Chi Chi's didn't fare so well and didn't last long at all. (I mean, we had REAL Tex-Mex here, why eat that crud?) The Chi Chi's that was near my childhood home was only open a few years and then became an Olive Garden (my guess is that it came and went by 1986 or so.) I've noticed that it's now a Chinese Buffet.
too funny! my spanish class went to chi chis too. ours is now a place called 'big daddys'. its a sports grill i think. never been there.
In 8th grade we went to a local Mexican restaurant and it was so exciting and scary. I don't even think we had a Chi Chi's then (1978). Our local ChiChi's here in Ann Arbor is now a Japanese Steakhouse - Cherry Blossom, not sure if they are a chain.
My son son doesn't believe that we didn't have Mexican restaurants or even a local McDonald's when I was a kid. (same with preschool - off topic, but it didn't really exist when I was eligible in 1968, kids just don't understand that these things that have now weren't always around)
"Chi-chis" is Spanish (esp. Mexican) slang for breasts; think of it as roughly equivalent to "tits." (Can I say that on your blog?) I could never really bring myself to eat at a restaurant called "Tit's."
My aunt worked at Chi-Chi's in the early 80's when I was pretty little. I used to think her work uniform - a long colorful "Mexican" tiered skirt and off the shoulder white blouse worn with hoop earrings- was the most beautiful outfit ever and I wanted to be a Chi-chi's waitress when I grew up.
She told me later it was made out of polyester and totally gross and itchy.
Man! I had no idea Chi-Chis had gone out of business in the States. I'll never be able to enjoy fried ice cream again...
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