Nostalgic Missouri adults with fond memories of playing arcade games while full of pizza at birthday parties can enjoy some retro fun at Chuck E. Cheese's new endeavor: a shopping mall arcade.
In late June, CEC Entertainment, Chuck E. Cheese's parent company, unveiled Chuck's Arcade, retro-style arcades located in 10 shopping malls across the country. The arcades feature various games and merchandise counters, but unlike traditional Chuck E. Cheese's do not offer a food selection — with the exception of Chuck's Arcade and Pizzeria [at Ward Parkway Center] in Kansas City, Missouri.
The new Chuck's Arcades were created by retheming and renovating existing shopping mall Fun Spot Arcades, which were already owned by CEC Entertainment, a company spokesperson told USA TODAY.
The new arcades come five years after CEC Entertainment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. Amid the pandemic, the company closed 45 locations, including 11 that closed before COVID hit. In 2019, the company reported losing $29 million, a court filing stated, and in 2020, CEC Entertainment lost more than 90% of its revenue, despite offering delivery and takeout food, per previous USA TODAY reporting.
A CEC Entertainment spokesperson told USA TODAY that the company returned to pre-COVID revenue in 2023, and what has driven the company's recovery is the remodeling of more than 475 Chuck E. Cheese locations nationwide.
"Our $350 million investment has delivered noticeable results, with traffic growth at levels we haven’t seen in nearly five decades," the company spokesperson said. "Chuck’s Arcade is a unique addition, designed for guests who grew up with Chuck E. Cheese and asked for more. While it’s not expected to fundamentally change our business, it meets the needs of this loyal segment."
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