Latest news with #AwesomeBlossom
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
No April Fools': Chili's is opening a 'Scranton Branch' that celebrates 'The Office'
No April Fools': Chili's is opening a 'Scranton Branch' that celebrates 'The Office' Show Caption Hide Caption Steve Carell teams up with nonprofit to surprise high school seniors A nonprofit org, Alice's Kids, set up a special announcement for high school seniors who were affected by the Eaton Fire, delivered by Steve Carell. Do you feel God in this Chili's? The restaurant chain announced on March 26 its plans to open a Chili's "Scranton Branch" that will "pay homage to some of Chili's most notable on-screen moments, with throwback nods and decor," in addition to being the only Chili's restaurant to have the Awesome Blossom on its menu, according to a news release. A Chili's spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Tuesday that this is not an April Fools' joke. The restaurant, set to open on April 7, will feature a giant Chili's Scranton Branch chalk art mural created by the original Chili's artist from the early 2000s, according to the news release, and will also include other throwback elements include "vintage artwork, Chili's iconic tile tables, and a perfectly recreated business lunch booth photo opp to snap the perfect 2005 frame." "Seeing Chili's Scranton Branch was like stepping into a time machine, especially if that time machine could also spit out the greatest appetizer of all time, the Awesome Blossom," Brian Baumgartner, who played the role of Kevin Malone in the popular sitcom, said in the news release. "Scranton is a city I'm very protective of, and working with Chili's to open this location was a natural fit. The Chili's team pulled out all the stops in creating this restaurant, and I'll be stopping in for an Awesome Blossom every time I come visit," Baumgartner said. What is an Awesome Blossom and a Scranton Marg? The Awesome Blossom is a deep-fried onion cut into a blossom shape with "easy to pull petals" and served with Chili's Buffalo Ranch dipping sauce, according to the chain. The item was removed from menus in 2008 and will be available exclusively at the Chili's Scranton Branch. The company is also offering customers a Scranton Marg, a "$5 party in a glass" that will be offered at Chili's locations nationwide on April 7 to celebrate the grand opening of the Scranton branch. "I'm the daughter of a bar owner and I've had enough margaritas through the years that I'm getting picky about them, and the Scranton Marg is a really good one," Kate Flannery, who portrayed Meredith Palmer on the show, said in the news release. "For fans who come to Scranton, Chili's Scranton Branch has everything you need in one place, and for those who can't make it on opening day, find the $5 Scranton Marg wherever your closest Chili's is," Flannery added. New Chili's commercial featuring famous 'locals' To promote the opening of the Scranton Branch restaurant, Chili's released a video on its YouTube channel on March 26 featuring some famous "locals." Andy Buckley and Melora Hardin, who played David Wallace and Jan Levinson in the sitcom, star in the ad, filmed in the style of a classic local TV commercial and highlighting the location's unique decor. The ad ends with Hardin being serenaded to the famous Chili's Baby Back Ribs jingle. You can watch the full ad in the embedded video below. This story has been updated to add new information. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chili's Highly-Anticipated Scranton Branch Will Include A Menu Item No Other Chili's Has
On April 7, Scranton, Pennsylvania, is opening doors to a brand new Chili's that will certainly not be like any other. The restaurant is paying homage to its notoriety and iconic references from the former hit television series "The Office," which took place in Scranton and was a vessel for fun, jokes, and "feeling God in this Chili's tonight." Ironically, the TikTok-viral chain never had a location there, until now! The addition of this new location brings back a discontinued item that is now exclusive to Scranton — the Awesome Blossom. Similar to Outback's Bloomin' Onion or Texas Roadhouse's Cactus Blossom, the Awesome Blossom is a deep-fried onion with pull-apart petals. For a delectable dipping sauce, Chili's pairs this appetizer with its Buffalo ranch. The item was featured on its menu in all locations back in the early 2000s and was a hit amongst Chili's-goers, but was discontinued in 2008, possibly due to concerns over its high calorie count. "We created Chili's Scranton Branch to feel like a familiar home to fans complete with the perfect throwback menu item in the Awesome Blossom, and we can't wait for them to join us," said Chili's Chief Marketing Officer George Felix in a recent press release. The menu will also feature a one-day-only $5 Scranton margarita on April 7 across all locations, so if you can't make it to Scranton to try an Awesome Blossom, you can still find a way to celebrate (unless you're in Oregon, the only U.S. state without a Chili's location.) Read more: 11 Mexican Restaurant Chains, Ranked Worst To Best This new Scranton location will be reminiscent of stepping into the restaurant back in the early 2000s, as it will be filled with lots of nostalgia, and not just from the return of this old school menu item. The look of the restaurant will be complete with vintage artwork, classic tile tables, and some themed references. The more modern feel of most current Chili's will not be found there. To promote the new branch joining the Chili's family, "The Office" actors Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery are featured in promotional photos, and both spoke about their excitement about the new location and items, with Flannery stating that the Scranton Marg is a "really good one." With the constant yearning for what once was, it's a no-brainer for Chili's to give thanks to its roots in pop culture and embrace this nostalgic design and classic television show. The chain seems to be eager to enter this time capsule and bring fans a sense of comfort. Now, for Scranton locals, along with your honey chipotle chicken crispers and your other Triple Dipper appetizers, you can enjoy an Awesome Blossom and bask in an older look, but with the same taste. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
CNN
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Chili's is opening a retro restaurant in Scranton that celebrates ‘The Office'
If you ever wanted to get as drunk as Pam Beesly at a Chili's in Scranton, that dream is finally becoming a reality. The popular chain is opening a restaurant in the Pennsylvania city on April 7, nearly 20 years after the famous episode of 'The Office' aired where employees from Dunder Mifflin celebrated the Dundies awards. The NBC show premiered this week in 2005. This is Chili's first location in the show's setting of Scranton, despite several memorable appearances in 'The Office.' The newly built restaurant pays homage to the chain's 'most notable on-screen moments, with throwback nods and decor,' according to a press release. The restaurant is adorned with chalk art murals that were once a mainstay of Chili's restaurants in the early 2000s, with the brand tapping the original artist to recreate them. Colorful tile tables are also making a comeback along with the Awesome Blossom onion appetizer, which was pulled from menus in 2008. Chili's has also enlisted several actors from 'The Office' to star in the ads, including Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson), Andy Buckley (David Wallace), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) and Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer). The campaign also taps into nostalgia, with Hardin being serenaded to Chili's classic 'Baby Back Ribs' jingle in a booth celebrating the Awesome Blossom. Another ad features Flannery stealing a 'Scranton Margarita,' which the chain will sell for $5 nationwide for one day only on April 7 to celebrate the opening of the Scranton branch. Just like Dunder Mifflin employees can't get enough of Chili's, most of America appears to feel the same way. Sales at restaurants open for at least a year increased a whopping 31% last quarter, marking Chili's third-straight quarter of double-digit sales growth. Once falling behind flashier restaurants, Chili's is pulling off its comeback thanks to upgraded French fry and chicken tender recipes, fast food-like deals and viral TikTok videos of customers pulling apart its gooey mozzarella sticks. Chili's 'Triple Dipper' platter has also blown up on TikTok, which lets customers choose from three appetizers — mozzarella sticks, southwestern egg rolls and chicken wings — for under $20. The platter had been around for decades, but Chili's started advertising it prominently on social media last year. Nostalgia has also helped the chain. In 2023, Chili's brought back its 'I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…ribs' jingle for an ad campaign promoting the dish, which has been a staple of the its menu since the late 1980s. Shares of owner Brinker International (EAT) has soared more than 230% over the past year because of Chili's success. The company hopes to replicate that magic at Maggiano's Little Italy, recently giving its menu a makeover led by a Michelin-starred chef.
CNN
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Chili's is opening a retro restaurant in Scranton that celebrates ‘The Office'
If you ever wanted to get as drunk as Pam Beesly at a Chili's in Scranton, that dream is finally becoming a reality. The popular chain is opening a restaurant in the Pennsylvania city on April 7, nearly 20 years after the famous episode of 'The Office' aired where employees from Dunder Mifflin celebrated the Dundies awards. The NBC show premiered this week in 2005. This is Chili's first location in the show's setting of Scranton, despite several memorable appearances in 'The Office.' The newly built restaurant pays homage to the chain's 'most notable on-screen moments, with throwback nods and decor,' according to a press release. The restaurant is adorned with chalk art murals that were once a mainstay of Chili's restaurants in the early 2000s, with the brand tapping the original artist to recreate them. Colorful tile tables are also making a comeback along with the Awesome Blossom onion appetizer, which was pulled from menus in 2008. Chili's has also enlisted several actors from 'The Office' to star in the ads, including Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson), Andy Buckley (David Wallace), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) and Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer). The campaign also taps into nostalgia, with Hardin being serenaded to Chili's classic 'Baby Back Ribs' jingle in a booth celebrating the Awesome Blossom. Another ad features Flannery stealing a 'Scranton Margarita,' which the chain will sell for $5 nationwide for one day only on April 7 to celebrate the opening of the Scranton branch. Just like Dunder Mifflin employees can't get enough of Chili's, most of America appears to feel the same way. Sales at restaurants open for at least a year increased a whopping 31% last quarter, marking Chili's third-straight quarter of double-digit sales growth. Once falling behind flashier restaurants, Chili's is pulling off its comeback thanks to upgraded French fry and chicken tender recipes, fast food-like deals and viral TikTok videos of customers pulling apart its gooey mozzarella sticks. Chili's 'Triple Dipper' platter has also blown up on TikTok, which lets customers choose from three appetizers — mozzarella sticks, southwestern egg rolls and chicken wings — for under $20. The platter had been around for decades, but Chili's started advertising it prominently on social media last year. Nostalgia has also helped the chain. In 2023, Chili's brought back its 'I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…ribs' jingle for an ad campaign promoting the dish, which has been a staple of the its menu since the late 1980s. Shares of owner Brinker International (EAT) has soared more than 230% over the past year because of Chili's success. The company hopes to replicate that magic at Maggiano's Little Italy, recently giving its menu a makeover led by a Michelin-starred chef.
CNN
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Chili's is opening a retro restaurant in Scranton that celebrates ‘The Office'
If you ever wanted to get as drunk as Pam Beesly at a Chili's in Scranton, that dream is finally becoming a reality. The popular chain is opening a restaurant in the Pennsylvania city on April 7, nearly 20 years after the famous episode of 'The Office' aired where employees from Dunder Mifflin celebrated the Dundies awards. The NBC show premiered this week in 2005. This is Chili's first location in the show's setting of Scranton, despite several memorable appearances in 'The Office.' The newly built restaurant pays homage to the chain's 'most notable on-screen moments, with throwback nods and decor,' according to a press release. The restaurant is adorned with chalk art murals that were once a mainstay of Chili's restaurants in the early 2000s, with the brand tapping the original artist to recreate them. Colorful tile tables are also making a comeback along with the Awesome Blossom onion appetizer, which was pulled from menus in 2008. Chili's has also enlisted several actors from 'The Office' to star in the ads, including Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson), Andy Buckley (David Wallace), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) and Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer). The campaign also taps into nostalgia, with Hardin being serenaded to Chili's classic 'Baby Back Ribs' jingle in a booth celebrating the Awesome Blossom. Another ad features Flannery stealing a 'Scranton Margarita,' which the chain will sell for $5 nationwide for one day only on April 7 to celebrate the opening of the Scranton branch. Just like Dunder Mifflin employees can't get enough of Chili's, most of America appears to feel the same way. Sales at restaurants open for at least a year increased a whopping 31% last quarter, marking Chili's third-straight quarter of double-digit sales growth. Once falling behind flashier restaurants, Chili's is pulling off its comeback thanks to upgraded French fry and chicken tender recipes, fast food-like deals and viral TikTok videos of customers pulling apart its gooey mozzarella sticks. Chili's 'Triple Dipper' platter has also blown up on TikTok, which lets customers choose from three appetizers — mozzarella sticks, southwestern egg rolls and chicken wings — for under $20. The platter had been around for decades, but Chili's started advertising it prominently on social media last year. Nostalgia has also helped the chain. In 2023, Chili's brought back its 'I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…ribs' jingle for an ad campaign promoting the dish, which has been a staple of the its menu since the late 1980s. Shares of owner Brinker International (EAT) has soared more than 230% over the past year because of Chili's success. The company hopes to replicate that magic at Maggiano's Little Italy, recently giving its menu a makeover led by a Michelin-starred chef.
