For years after Chi-Chi’s closed at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, the former Mexican restaurant remained largely untouched, providing a time capsule from the mall’s earlier days. Now, both the restaurant and Lakeforest itself have entered new chapters: the former mall has been demolished, while Chi-Chi’s has officially made a comeback.
Lakeforest Mall closed permanently on March 31, 2023, after nearly 45 years in Gaithersburg. The property has since been demolished to make way for a major mixed-use redevelopment planned for the site.
Before demolition, the former Chi-Chi’s remained vacant inside the mall after closing in the early 2000s. During an auction of Lakeforest’s contents, The MoCo Show got a rare look inside the abandoned restaurant, which still contained remnants of the chain’s distinctive décor years after its closure (video below).
Chi-Chi’s was once a major national Mexican restaurant chain but experienced financial difficulties before a deadly hepatitis A outbreak connected to a Pennsylvania location in 2003 sickened hundreds of people. The company ultimately filed for bankruptcy, and its U.S. restaurants closed.
More than two decades later, Chi-Chi’s has returned to the United States. The revived chain opened its first new restaurant in Minneapolis on October 6, 2025, and is now approaching the first anniversary of its comeback. The company says it has welcomed customers from across the country and is exploring opportunities for additional locations as it enters its second year. The revived Chi-Chi’s has also brought back several longtime menu favorites, including the Twice Grilled BBQ Burrito, Seafood Nachos and Margarita Chicken Tacos.
Chi-Chi’s has a long history in Montgomery County. In addition to the Lakeforest restaurant, the chain operated a location at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville. That space later became Broadway Diner and Ted’s 355 Diner and is now occupied by The Habit Burger Grill and Jersey Mike’s. The Lakeforest location also holds plenty of memories for longtime Gaithersburg residents. MoCo Show founder Alex Tsironis remembers visiting the restaurant with his family as a child, including trying fried ice cream for the first time, ordering virgin piña coladas and discovering that the chips and salsa served before the meal were free.
While there has been no announcement of a new Chi-Chi’s location in Maryland, the company says it is exploring future growth opportunities as it builds on the first year of its return.
