Chili's Revives 1,200 U.S. Restaurants With Retro Redesign, Remodeling 10% a Year
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 28
Chili's Revives 1,200 U.S. Restaurants With Retro Redesign, Remodeling 10% a Year
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 28
Summary
Eight remodeled Chili's restaurants outside the Dallas test market reopened July 1, marking the start of a nationwide retrofit that will eventually cover all roughly 1,200 U.S. locations.
About 10% of domestic restaurants will be refreshed each year as Chili's shifts from recent food-and-service investments to the in-store experience under its "Make Chili's More Chili's" strategy.
Four Dallas-area prototypes shaped the final package, which restores red booths, adds tile-inspired tabletops and neon-accented bars, and layers in brand-history details like the 1975 menu and baby back ribs jingle sheet music.
Nearly 30 million margaritas sold in 2025 help explain the larger horseshoe bars, extra televisions and oversized Margarita Bar signage in the redesign.
The rollout taps a broader restaurant nostalgia trend, echoing Pizza Hut franchisees that have revived red roofs, vinyl booths and other classic design cues.