The Chili’s restaurant in Irvine, California, has shut its doors for good, leaving locals mourning the loss of a longtime dining spot. The closure follows the recent closures of Chili’s in Aliso Viejo and Paso Robles, California, raising concerns about the chain’s future.
According to a notice posted on the restaurant’s door, Chili’s lease at Westpark Plaza expired at the end of 2020. The location remained open due to lease extensions, but these were temporary. Brinker International, the company that owns Chili’s, ultimately decided to close the location permanently this month.
The closure of the Irvine Chili’s has left a void in the community. Locals took to social media to express their sadness and share memories of the restaurant. One resident wrote, “So sad….I used to meet my parents there for dinner every Saturday.” Another called it a “tragedy,” saying, “I LOVED that location.”
However, some locals are also looking forward to the opening of a new restaurant in the former Chili’s location. The notice on the building states that a “family-owned dining restaurant” will open early next year, although no further information has been provided.
The closure of the Irvine Chili’s is part of a larger trend of restaurant closures in the United States. Major dining chains have announced a series of closures in recent months. One local resident commented on the situation, saying, “One drawback about Irvine- No Mom and Pop restaurants and others can’t make it here.” They added that the financial backing large chains receive is a “serious problem” for these family-run and independent businesses.
Despite the concerns about the future of chain restaurants, the opening of a new family-owned restaurant in the former Chili’s location offers a glimmer of hope. Locals are eager to see what the new restaurant has to offer and are hopeful that it will fill the void left by Chili’s.
