Check out Chili’s nostalgic, quirky new restaurant design
The refresh combines elements from Chili’s past, like red booths and tile, with some modern touches and a bigger bar.
July 22, 2026
Chili’s Grill & Bar is giving its restaurants a new look as the chain looks to build upon its three-year comeback campaign.
With the goal to “make Chili’s more Chili’s,” the renovations take inspiration from Chili’s restaurants of the past, including its original location in Dallas, while adding some modern touches.
The company has completed about a dozen refreshes so far, with the balance of the 1,200-unit system in line for an update over the next several years.
Redesigned stores feature the return of red booths, a defining feature of Chili’s in the ’90s, and decorative tile that lends a Southwest flair throughout the restaurant. Some tabletops will have a "tile-inspired" design, with a pattern that is printed on wood and sealed.
Customers will be welcomed with a neon “Welcome to Chili’s” sign with a chalk-art background created by Sean McAffee, whose hand-lettered chalk pieces were a part of Chili’s visual identity for years.
There will be other “quirky, personality-packed” art throughout the restaurant, as well as custom toile wallpaper featuring scenes of chili peppers, tortilla chip UFOs, a cheese-pull tug-of-war, and a margarita swimming pool.
The refreshed restaurants also feature a bigger bar area, with a horseshoe-shaped bar and more TVs. It’s aimed at making the bar a place to gather and distinguishing it from the dining room with a “vibrant energy.” There is more neon lighting, for instance, including a large “Margarita Bar” sign to highlight the chain’s signature beverage.
The outside of the restaurants will get an update too, including murals and Southwestern tile. Some locations will sport a neon Presidente Margarita shaker on top that will appear to be pouring into a glass in the front window.
Chili’s tested various elements of the new concept in four locations in its home market of Dallas and used the learnings to settle on the final package. That is now beginning to roll out nationwide, with the pace set to ramp up next year. Chili’s goal is to touch 10% of its locations annually and has said it expects to get back to opening new locations by 2029.
The refresh follows three years of transformation for Chili’s that has been defined by improvements to food and operations, a value-focused marketing strategy, and several viral social-media moments. The changes have made Chili’s one of the hottest chains in the country, with 20 straight quarters of positive same-store sales and systemwide sales growth of more than 20% last year.
Chili’s restaurants with the updated design include:
Fayetteville, Arkansas (772 E Milsap St, Fayetteville, AR 72703)
Monrovia, California (630 W Huntington Dr, Monrovia, CA 91016)
Town Center, Georgia (851 Cobb Place Blvd, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Lake Charles, Louisiana (3205 Gertsner Memorial Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70601)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (4550 Constitution Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808)
Greensboro, North Carolina (3024 W. Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27403)
Cookeville, Tennessee (1428 Interstate Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501)
El Paso, Texas (7600 N. Mesa, El Paso, TX 79912)
Fayetteville, Arkansas (772 E Milsap St, Fayetteville, AR 72703)
Monrovia, California (630 W Huntington Dr, Monrovia, CA 91016)
Town Center, Georgia (851 Cobb Place Blvd, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Lake Charles, Louisiana (3205 Gertsner Memorial Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70601)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (4550 Constitution Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808)
Greensboro, North Carolina (3024 W. Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27403)
Cookeville, Tennessee (1428 Interstate Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501)
El Paso, Texas (7600 N. Mesa, El Paso, TX 79912)
About the Author
Joe Guszkowski
Senior editor, Restaurant Business
Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains.
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