I just drove past our Chuck E. Cheese's (formerly Showbiz Pizza Place in the 1980's) and noticed they were taking the signage down off of the building. After being located in the, then brand new, Eastland Place shopping center since 1982 they are gone. Kinda sad, I remember many birthday parties while watching those mechanical animals "sing and dance".
I noticed the location in Owensboro had gone out of business several years ago. I don't think we can find a way to blame Wal-Mart on this one......(but I will try!) :P
take a picture: i would looooooooooove to see it
There's still a Chuck E Cheese in Newington, CT. I had and went to many birthday parties in that place. It was a cool place. It's in the JoAnn Plaza next to where KB Toy Works used to be and Modell's is coming in.
The Evansville Chuck E Cheese was located in a strip center called Eastland Place. The building itself is just a boring old Mansard style center with no windows in the Chuck E Cheese
building. Just the front double doors so not really that much to look at in the means of a picture. But I know what you mean about seeing older chain restaurant buildings either abondoned or being re-used and seeing what they look like.
Unfortunately, this building is just very very boring looking, even when it was open.
this chuck e cheese is in South portland and it opened a few years ago and was Filene's basement.
I worked for one summer in the Warwick RI Chuck E Cheese's as I was seriously short of funds. I wore the mouse suit and let me tell you, it was not fun. It is hot, sweaty and smelly. Teenagers laugh at you, adults insult you and little kids kick you. The pizza is horrible and the prizes for Skee-ball and other games are junk. The money spent winning the tickets could buy better merchandise at Toys r Us. People do not bring your kids here unless you want to scar them for life. More war stories if I am asked nicely. :bum:
the one in waterbury CT and it is the east of rainbow.
QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
the one in waterbury CT and it is the east of rainbow.
sign of the one in waterbury ct
chuck e cheese in newington CT
as a kid i never liked them i always liekd discovery zone better
here's the Poughkeepsie location, in front of South Hills Mall.
Chuck E. Cheese
in manchester CT near the old ames / caldor and 1/2 mile south of toys r us.
in meriden ct on the wallingford line
manchester ct sign
Evansville Indiana
these pictures were digitized and taken
1. top right picture - my dad took this picture during my brothers 6th birthday party in 1984. this chuck e cheese is in manchester nh near kmart. I credit my dad douglas fife for this picture.
2. below picture - chuck e cheese in manchester nh next to kmart. I took this picture in 2000.
the one in parma oh (not far from cleveland) in parmatown mall
The former Showbiz in Wilmington, DE was a former A&P. Part of the A&P is now Chuck E. Cheese's, the rest is now Dollar Tree.
There are two Chuck E Cheese Pizza places near me. The first one is on Roosevelt Boulevard, between Grant Avenue and Werlsh Road, in Philadelphia,PA. It is in the basement of Northeast Shopping Center, in what used to be E. J. Korvette's Department Store. The other is on Lincoln Highway (at Country Club/Langhorne Square Shopping Center), in Langhorne, PA, in a building that was built on the site of the former Fox Levittown/Eric i-95 Twin Theatre.
There was one in Southignton for a brief time in the 80s. It later became part of Bernie's and remains vacant after the demise of Bernie's two and half years ago.
There is a Chuck E Cheese next to the Brandon, FL KMart (it used to be a Big Star Supermarket in the 70s).
Quote from: d_fife on December 17, 2006, 01:35:40 PM
the one in parma oh (not far from cleveland) in parmatown mall
That used to be Children's Palace, and was a Discovery Zone after that. When DZ closed, Chuck E moved in.
Looks like they are going through some tough times and are trying to liven it up a little with an updated image of the mouse: http://nrn.com/article/chuck-e-cheeses-fights-sales-slump-mascot-makeover
There is still one in New London, CT off I-95. As far as I know, it was built as a Chuck E. Cheeses, it is in its own free standing building.
Quote from: Bdubs on July 08, 2012, 11:38:10 AM
Looks like they are going through some tough times and are trying to liven it up a little with an updated image of the mouse: http://nrn.com/article/chuck-e-cheeses-fights-sales-slump-mascot-makeover
There is still one in New London, CT off I-95. As far as I know, it was built as a Chuck E. Cheeses, it is in its own free standing building.
I think its the end for this company.
Quote from: TRU7536 on July 08, 2012, 12:33:53 PM
Quote from: Bdubs on July 08, 2012, 11:38:10 AM
Looks like they are going through some tough times and are trying to liven it up a little with an updated image of the mouse: http://nrn.com/article/chuck-e-cheeses-fights-sales-slump-mascot-makeover
There is still one in New London, CT off I-95. As far as I know, it was built as a Chuck E. Cheeses, it is in its own free standing building.
I think its the end for this company.
Why would you say that?
I went by the Amherst, NY Chuck E. Cheese's and saw no sign on the building, but it was still listed in the plaza's sign, so i'm wondering if it's closed as in forever closed or remolding closed? (I saw some big dumpsters in the plaza's parking lot)
When they remodel a Chuck E. Cheese's do they usually replace the sign with a newer sign?
Quote from: Pikapower on June 26, 2013, 03:42:08 PM
I went by the Amherst, NY Chuck E. Cheese's and saw no sign on the building, but it was still listed in the plaza's sign, so i'm wondering if it's closed as in forever closed or remolding closed? (I saw some big dumpsters in the plaza's parking lot)
When they remodel a Chuck E. Cheese's do they usually replace the sign with a newer sign?
I think when they remodel. They just close off certain sections and not the whole store. Also, they would have a sign about remodeling reopening soon.
I've notice some signs in the windows with the CEC logo, but didn't get a closer view of them! :(
Here's are some photo of what the Amherst, NY CEC looked like before it got "remodeled"
And the outside with the old "Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza" sign and the 1995-1998 "kiddie mouse" Chuck E. Cheese
I'm not sure when the Amherst, NY Chuck E. Cheese's opened? But my guess is around 1989-1992
There was one in West Mifflin, PA next door to a Service Merchandise where I was working.
It was surreal to walk in there during the daytime. You'd see tables with 2 or 3 moms
sitting around finishing off a bottle of wine while the kids ran absolutely wild.
This store closed after a well-publicized incident in which a toddler found a loaded
gun inside the ball pit. Apparently a man with a carry permit became ill, and lost his
gun in the restroom. It was presumed that some other child had found it and carried
it into the ball pit.
That location is now a gym.
I read somewhere that Chuck E. Cheese got rid of their ball pits in 2004 in the majority of locations due to upkeep and the rumors of kids stealing balls from the ball pit and now I've heard that some locations are getting rid of the Skytubes playgrounds as well.
So in conclusion to what I've said Chuck E. Cheese is turning into a "Dave & Buster's Jr.", except for the Friday's/Applebee's style foods, the bar, and the arcade "credit" cards!
I remember the one in New Hartford which I think is still open I think I have been in there once as a kid.
Does Chuck E Cheese still have those animatronic things? I think Water Safari up in Old Forge NY must have bought some out from one of them a long time ago.
https://www.watersafari.com/rides-and-attractions/enchanted-attractions/rocky-ramblin-rascals
^^^^ this looks like a reconfigured version
I went to the one in Newington, Connecticut once when I was in 3rd grade. It was a day off from school and a neighbor took his 2 sons along with me and another friend of his sons. I wasn't very impressed with the place.
Chuck E. Cheese's wasn't as good as Discovery Zone, but I had my birthday party at CEC three times!
It seems like the only thing that Chuck E. Cheese's has in the way of playgrounds is the toddler play area, the older kids just have coin op kiddie rides and arcade games no more Skytubes since Chuck E. Cheese's are phasing them out like McDonald's and Burger King are phasing out their playgrounds.
New London location has closed. I believe it happened this week. All signage has been reomwved and the inside is empty.
Do you guys think that those bounce house fun centers are going to be the "exterminator" for Chuck E. Cheese's?
The one in Danbury, Connecticut closed. It wasn't even open that long. It was in the same plaza as Buffalo Wild Wings. The one in Meriden, Connecticut closed a while back too.
Orange, Waterbury, Manchester, and Newington are still open.
Chuck E. Cheese's should get a bounce house or two since bounce house are the latest trend in family fun centers.
New London location was pretty much forced out. Landlord did not renew the lease. I'm not sure what is going on with the property, but that location is a stand alone building and behind it is a large empty lot which once was home to a bowling alley. They have been talking about doing something there forever, but could never find an interested buyer.
Quote from: Pikapower on November 22, 2014, 07:12:22 PM
Do you guys think that those bounce house fun centers are going to be the "exterminator" for Chuck E. Cheese's?
Not based on the feedback of a young mom at my church. She took her kids to one of those centers, and was horrified by the cost ($17 per hour per kid!)
The insurance premiums you have to pay to run a place like that are quite steep apparently.
Quote from: Pikapower on July 28, 2013, 02:18:32 PM
Here's are some photo of what the Amherst, NY CEC looked like before it got "remodeled"
Those are Great Phase 3 Photos!
Quote from: Patrick Boots CEC on July 06, 2015, 09:02:33 PM
Quote from: Pikapower on July 28, 2013, 02:18:32 PM
Here's are some photo of what the Amherst, NY CEC looked like before it got "remodeled"
Those are Great Phase 3 Photos!
What was "Phase 3" of CEC, was that the "phase" when the "Showbiz Pizza" name was phased out in favor for Chuck E. Cheese's?
The one in Southington, Connecticut opened in June 1983 and closed in February 1984. :o According to an article in the February 23, 1984 Southington Observer there were problem with the company internally and the closed 20 under performing locations nationwide and restructured. They were in what is now Shoprite Plaza where Joann's is now located. Back then their parent company was called Pizza Time Theater Inc.
Article starts on Page 1 and continues on Page 14.
http://southingtonlibrary.org/PDFFiles/newspapers/1984/02_23_1984.pdf
Quote from: Marc B on September 27, 2015, 09:58:40 PM
The one in Southington, Connecticut opened in June 1983 and closed in February 1984. :o According to an article in the February 23, 1984 Southington Observer there were problem with the company internally and the closed 20 under performing locations nationwide and restructured. They were in what is now Shoprite Plaza where Joann's is now located. Back then their parent company was called Pizza Time Theater Inc.
Article starts on Page 1 and continues on Page 14.
http://southingtonlibrary.org/PDFFiles/newspapers/1984/02_23_1984.pdf
Yep, around 1984 SPT (ShowBiz Pizza Time, the company that recently bought out the then Pizza Time Theatre, Inc.) closed a bunch of stores. After the Video Game Crash, I guess they couldn't handle that many units.
I do not forgive Chuck E. Cheese's for buying out Discovery Zone in 1999! :-X
Chuck E. Cheese's used provide some corporate funding for many of PBS' kids shows mostly notably Barney & Friends.
^ (That's back when they used Original artwork everywhere, too. Nowadays it's the same stuff plastered all around their website.)
Didn't Chuck E. Cheese's at one time test marketed those arcade "credit" cards to replace tokens?
Yep. Around 2007 they tested "Chuck E.'s Token Card" at stores around Dallas(bear their headquarters) but it ended up not taking off because smaller children were swiping too much. Tickets were stored electronically. http://showbizpizza.com/tokens/cards/06card.jpg
Recently they brought it back with "Play Pass" but tickets are still Paper and there's no swiping, but passing over,(hence the name) on an NFC like chip(similar to Nintendo Amiibo and Skylander). This update is planned to go system wide by the end of next year. Your store might already have it.
^Something tells me that Chuck E. Cheese's might be phasing out tokens.
I remember when Chuck E. Cheese's did commercial comparing "boring" restaurants to Chuck E. Cheese's!
You Mean This?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRHaZtSBsa4
That's a classic. :)
Quote from: Patrick Boots CEC on May 14, 2016, 09:27:41 PM
You Mean This?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRHaZtSBsa4
That's a classic. :)
Yes of course, but I was thinking more of this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yLvuDlDofo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yLvuDlDofo)
They are both from 1994 and I know they were made by the same people..The one I linked to is more common, haven't seen that one in a while.
This was their first commercial(that we have archived, We think there was an earlier one):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX-L4_2CHjA
Quote from: Patrick Boots CEC on May 15, 2016, 08:51:30 AMThis was their first commercial(that we have archived, We think there was an earlier one):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX-L4_2CHjA
Yeesh, the 80s version of Chuck E. Cheese (the character) look kind of creepy compare to Chuck E.'s current look!
Me likey this place.
I think that maybe Chuck E. Cheese's should consider bringing back some of their "retired" animatronics like Pizzacam, Mr. Moon, Munch Jr., and Mr. Building.
Pizzacam
(http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/showbizpizza/images/3/33/Pizzacam_in_Laurel%2C_Maryland.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130109054100)
Mr. Building
(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/showbizpizza/images/b/ba/Building.png/revision/latest?cb=20141214021221)
Mr. Moon
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/showbizpizza/images/4/47/Moon.png/revision/latest?cb=20141214023122)
Munch Jr.
(http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/showbizpizza/images/3/31/Munch_Jr.png/revision/latest?cb=20130105025656)
The animatronics of the Concept Unification 3-Stage shows we originally the Rock-afire Explosion characters from Showbiz Pizza.
Here's the list of the characters that became the Chuck E. Cheese's animatronic we know now
*Rolf DeWolf - Chuck E. Cheese
*Mitiz Mozzarella - Helen Henny
*Fatz Geronimo - Mr. Munch
*Beach Bear - Jasper T. Jowls (at some CEC location Jasper still used Beach Bear's guitar)
*Dook LaRue - Pasqually
My only gripe with the Concept Unification 3-Stage is that the Jasper animatronic was sitting on a plain metal can and the now-defunct Munch Jr. animatronic was in just a plain metal can. Why didn't Chuck E. Cheese's jazzed up Jasper and Munch Jr.'s cans during CU?
Quote from: Patrick Boots CEC on August 22, 2016, 08:57:40 PM
Because The MMBB was supposed to be a "Rooftop Band", ie the Building and sky background, so various metal vents and structures fits in with it.
Beach Bear sat on a stump because the RAE was in the forest.
I didn't know that Munch's Make Believe Band was supposed to be on the roof of a building. I thought that MMBB was supposed to be in the city on the streets with metal "trash" cans for Jasper and Munch Jr.
I see their latest TV ads are pitching upscale "adult" menu items for the moms.
I think that some Chuck E. Cheese's replaced their classic Skytubes playground with a carnival style fun house that you pay to get in there.
(http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/fictional-family-entertainment-centers/images/9/9d/Chuck_E._Cheese%27s_Fun_House.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170225000034)
Yep, it's a new concept they are testing out. Some stores replace the SkyCrawl with the Fun House, Bumper Cars, or a new challenge involving a laser maze. (Simply put, 40 years of cleaning those tubes might do something to someone)
Quote from: Patrick Boots CEC on February 28, 2017, 06:20:29 PM
Yep, it's a new concept they are testing out. Some stores replace the SkyCrawl with the Fun House, Bumper Cars, or a new challenge involving a laser maze. (Simply put, 40 years of cleaning those tubes might do something to someone)
Yeah, the SkyTubes were pretty a maintenance nightmare for Chuck E. Cheese's workers who have clean the playground on a daily basis. It could have been worse if Chuck E. Cheese still had ball pits in addition to SkyTubes playgrounds.
Oh I forgot, happy 40th anniversary to Chuck E. Cheese's!
Chuck E. Cheese's has a location inside the Janesville Mall in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Chuck E. Cheese's is getting rid of their animatronic possibly to cut back on store maintenance. After 40 years, Chuck E. Cheese's is getting rid of the one thing that set it apart from being just another pizzeria arcade kids party house. But they're still going to have the costumed Chuck E. walkaround doing shows and videos as well. :mad:
It's a shame that the animatronics are victims of being vandalized by unruly guests. :'(
The Chuck E. Cheese's mascot's full name is Charles Entertainment Cheese.
Quote from: ShopKoFan on May 08, 2019, 11:38:41 PM
The Chuck E. Cheese's mascot's full name is Charles Entertainment Cheese.
In Australia,
Chuck E. Cheese was known as
Charlie Cheese due to the word "chuck" being Australian slang for puke.
Quote from: Pikapower on May 09, 2019, 06:32:33 PM
In Australia, Chuck E. Cheese was known as Charlie Cheese due to the word "chuck" being Australian slang for puke.
Truth in Advertising...
Pretty much all of the "Pizza Time Players" have been retired except for our main mouse Chuck E. Cheese.