Chili’s Grill & Bar is opening a new branch in Scranton in the US state of Pennsylvania on 7 April 2025, featuring the return of the menu item the Awesome Blossom, which has been absent since 2008.
The Awesome Blossom is a deep-fried onion shaped like a blossom, served with Chili’s Buffalo Ranch dipping sauce.
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The location will feature a chalk mural by the original Chili’s artist from the early 2000s.
Chili’s chief marketing officer George Felix stated: “For decades, Chili’s has inserted itself in culture – introducing the now-famous Baby Back Ribs jingle, and most recently unleashing Triple Dipper cheese pulls on TikTok.
“But we’ve also seen the brand come to life on screen through the years, and that includes being tied to Scranton despite never having a location there. That changes this year with our newest restaurant.
“[… 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.”
Chili’s has launched online and social media channel advertising to promote the opening.
Poker champion and local band drummer Brian Baumgartner is representing the return of the Awesome Blossom.
He stated: “Seeing Chili’s Scranton Branch was like stepping into a time machine, especially if that time machine could also spit out the greatest appetiser of all time, the Awesome Blossom.”
