An employee confirmed yesterday that Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant, 1215 N. Atherton St., closed Monday and has not re-opened since then. No one from the corporate office was available to comment on whether the closing is permanent.

The Chi-Chi's chain was hit hard financially after health officials announced Nov. 21 that green onions, also called scallions, used by the chain were the source of an outbreak of a hepatitis A virus near Pittsburgh. The virus infected 605 people who ate at a Chi-Chi's restaurant in Monaca's Beaver Valley Mall.