Despite recent rumors, Chili's is not closing all its restaurants. According to the restaurant's parent company, reports that the chain was closing its 1,600 locations are false.
Chili's is still open for business and has not announced any plans to shut down completely. Although some individual locations closed this year, the chain continues to operate over 1,000 restaurants worldwide.
Chili's Refutes Closure Rumors with Humor
On social media, Chili humorously addressed rumors that it was closing. In response to one claim, the restaurant commented, "lol this is not true." Another post received a straightforward denial: "we're NOT closing down."
Brinker International, Chili's parent company, has not made any statements about closing the entire chain. In fact, recent announcements indicate that Chili's is thriving. On April 30, 2024, Brinker's quarterly fiscal report showed an increase in Chili's sales compared to the previous year.
Despite claims circulating online, the radio station's article screenshot does not state that Chili's is closing all its locations. The headline may have seemed dramatic, but the actual content of the article only mentioned the closure of three specific Chili's restaurants.
Evan Paul of KIXS, a radio station in Victoria, Texas, noted that in 2024, Chili's closed its locations in Fort Wayne, Indiana; St. Joseph, Missouri; and Charlotte, North Carolina. Additionally, Brinker International, which owns Chili's, closed 16 locations in 2023.
A related report from Taste of Country also mentioned the closure of three Chili's restaurants early in the year. However, the details were mixed up.
The Taste of Country article incorrectly reported the closure of a Chili's in St. Joseph, Missouri, which remains open. The confusion arose from a mistaken identity between St. Joseph, Missouri, and St. Joseph, Michigan-the latter having seen a Chili's closure earlier this year.
Overall, while some individual locations have indeed closed, Chili's operates roughly 1,500 restaurants globally, indicating that the chain is far from a total shutdown.
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Chili's Quashes Closure Rumors on Social Media
As reported by The U.S. Sun, Chili's has actively used its X account, formerly Twitter, to refute rumors about its closures.
The restaurant humorously suggested that "Fast food planted this because they're scared of our prices." The Tex-Mex chain has adjusted its pricing strategy to compete with fast food prices, which have been rising.
One X user commented on Chili's cost-effectiveness compared to a pricey drive-thru, saying, "I hate when my drive-thru order is like $20-$30 because I could have just gone to Chili's." In a cheeky reply, Chili's tweeted, "Fast food is quaking."
These rumors gained traction from a radio station's misleading headline, "Chili's Is Shutting Doors Across America in 2024," which contributed to the widespread confusion. Chili's also addressed a TikTok video about the closure rumors with a clear "NOT TRUE, NOT TRUE."
As the rumors spread, social media users expressed their concerns in various dramatic posts. Some humorously prayed over the supposed end times due to the rumored closures, while others expressed disbelief.
Comments ranged from "Y'all please pray! We're in the end times. They're shutting down all Chili's," to more humorous despair like, "Don't text don't call, Chili's is closing all locations in 2025."
Despite the confusion, Chili's has effectively used social media to clear up the false rumors, maintaining a mix of humor and direct communication.
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