Many people who were of age in the 1980s and 1990s have fond memories of classic restaurant chains. Now, three iconic restaurant chains are trying to stage a surprising comeback, although one of them is not without controversy.
Sizzler, Ground Round, and Chi-Chis were all big names back then, with Sizzler known for its salad bar, and Chi-Chis popular for its large margaritas. The chains, like many others, fell victim, at least to some degree, to a changing economy and dining habits. Sizzler still has a foothold in California but is also trying to expand its popularity. But now the restaurant chains are giving it another go.
Sizzler Is Trying to Grow Its Brand After Financial Struggles Following Its Heyday in the 1990s
Sizzler saw its popularity soar in the 1980s and 1990s, although it officially launched in 1958. The chain previously filed for bankruptcy.
Sizzler’s goal was to offer a steakhouse that was affordable, and, in fact, QSR Magazine argues it helped invent the fast-casual category of dining. It’s all-you-can-eat salad bar, in particular, ignites nostalgia in many.
However, like other restaurants, Sizzler almost went out of business. As of June 2025, the company had plummeted to a mere 74 Sizzler restaurants located in the U.S., mostly in California. According to MLive, the chain once had 700 restaurants throughout the U.S, peaking in the 1990s.
According to QSR Magazine, Sizzler is aiming for a “rebirth,” going back to its staples, and launching a brand review.
Chi-Chi’s Is Trying to Stage a Comeback With a Single Minnesota Restaurant
At the time it started, Chi-Chi’s restaurant chain was credited with bringing Tex-Mex food to the Midwest and the masses, though it sparked controversy, with some deriding a perceived lack of authenticity or reliance on stereotypes. The restaurant is located in Saint Louis Park, MN.
With 200 locations throughout the U.S. at one time, the chain, which started in the Midewest, was so embedded in the U.S. psyche that it ended up in a Saturday Night Live skit.
Now, 20 years later, the chain is trying to come back with a single restaurant in Minnesota, where it started, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. A press release says that the chain is being “led by restaurant industry veteran Michael McDermott, son of CHI-CHI’s co-founder Marno McDermott.” The release says that guests will see “a mix of enhanced menu items, original favorites,” and “an upgraded bar experience.”
A ‘Revived’ Ground Round Opened in Massachusetts
And then there’s Ground Round. Once a popular restaurant chain, Ground Round is trying to revive with a restaurant in Massachusetts, which opened in May 2025.
“The revived Ground Round” is open in Shrewsbury, MA. The nostalgia runs high for the restaurant in that state, which hadn’t had a Ground Round in decades, according to Boston.com.
“Every table had complimentary popcorn, kids would run around and throw peanuts on the floor, and some families would get warm, yet unwelcome greetings from a person dressed as a clown who went by the name of Bingo,” the site recounted.
