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Geek Tyrant
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Chuck E. Cheese Is Growing Up and is Launching Acades For Adults — GeekTyrant
Chuck E. Cheese is no longer just for kids' birthday parties and awkward pizza parties. The iconic animatronic rat and his crew are stepping into the adult world with Chuck's Arcade, a brand-new spinoff designed specifically for grownups. The company is starting with ten Chuck's Arcade locations across the U.S., including St. Petersburg, FL; Trumbull, CT; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK; Victor, NY; Buford, GA; El Paso, TX; Nashua and Salem, NH; and St. Louis, MO. Each site is designed to be a nostalgia-fueled, game-heavy hangout spot. This isn't just a half-hearted attempt at reinvention either. Chuck E. Cheese is leaning all the way in. According to the official release, Chuck's Arcade will 'combine classic games and the hottest new games alongside iconic animatronic characters,' and serve as 'a new destination where nostalgia meets the future.' 'Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it's in our DNA,' said David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese. 'Thanks to the expertise of our talented technicians and the successful transformation of almost 500 fun centers worldwide, we've built the operational and creative foundation to take our brand beyond our traditional four walls. 'Chuck's Arcade is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences.' Each Chuck's Arcade will even be 'overseen' by one of the animatronic band members, and select spots will feature exclusive retro merch, including old-school logo apparel, collectible toys, novelty candy, and prize redemption items. It's part of a bigger strategy to tap into the millennial and Gen Z nostalgia economy. If you grew up feeding tokens into arcade games as a kid while your slice of pizza cooled, Chuck's Arcade wants you back. So, while Chuck E. Cheese may have started as the go-to spot for birthday chaos, it's evolving, just like its audience. Now the question is can an animatronic rat still party when the crowd's ordering craft beer and chasing high scores on a Dance Dance Revolution machine? We're about to find out. Via: Nerdist
New York Post
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Chuck E. Cheese opens spin-off arcades for adults — including one in New York
Where a kid can be an…adult? Famed animatronic restaurant chain Chuck E. Cheese is launching a spin-off dubbed 'Chuck's Arcade' complete with arcades for adults as 'a modern-day love letter' to their fans — and aging consumers. The grown-up version of the kiddie arcade will be complete with retro arcade games, including Galaga alongside more violent ones left out of the tykes' terrain like Mortal Kombat and Halo, according to a press release. Advertisement 4 Chuck E. Cheese is launching a spin-off brand called 'Chuck's Arcade' for adults. Chuck's Arcade So far, 10 have opened in malls across the United States in New York, Connecticut, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, New Hampshire and Missouri. The New York spot is located in Victor, about 22 miles southeast of Rochester. Each location is 'overseen by an animatronic character' from the company's lineup, ranging from Chuck E. Cheese himself to lesser-known icons from Munch's Make Believe Band that were discontinued at all locations in 2023 except one in California. Advertisement 4 The adult arcade features a prize counter complete with 'old-school merch.' Chuck's Arcade The adult arcades will be complete with a prize counter including 'old-school merch' for big ticket earners alongside the expected mountain of candy. Others will include food — and alcohol catered to their now-legal base. David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese, figured expanding was a 'natural evolution' the company needed after a sweeping remodel of all 500 locations worldwide. 'Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it's in our DNA,' McKillips assured. Advertisement 4 The adult arcade will include a mix of retro arcade machines and virtual reality games. Chuck's Arcade 4 Each location will be overseen by one of the franchise's animatronic characters. Chuck's Arcade Five years ago, the parent company for Chuck E. Cheese filed for bankruptcy after being beaten and battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, it poured $350 million into remodels and rolled out a new pricing tier system to cater to families with stricter budgets. In 2023, the company was exploring auction options with investment banking powerhouse Goldman Sachs for up to $1 billion.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chuck E. Cheese is opening arcades for adults
Chuck E. Cheese isn't just for the kids anymore. The arcade chain is opening a spin-off aimed at adults, called 'Chuck's Arcade,' which the company describes as a 'modern-day love letter to the games and people who made Chuck E. Cheese great.' Similar to the kiddie version, Chuck's Arcade has a mix of nostalgic arcade games, like Donkey Kong and Mortal Kombat; and newer titles such as Halo and Connect Four Hoops. Plus, each arcade is 'overseen' by one of the chain's iconic animatronic characters, including Chuck E. Cheese himself or other characters from his Munch's Make Believe Band. Ten are open so far at malls across the United States, with arcades in St. Petersburg, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; El Paso, Texas; and St. Louis. Each location looks different, decorated with original artwork that celebrates the brand's past, according to a release. Of course, there will also be prizes for adults to win and arcades will have 'old-school merch' available for purchase. Some arcades will serve food, with the Kansas City location having a pizzeria that also serves a small selection of beer and wine, a spokesperson told CNN. David McKillips, CEO of Chuck. E. Cheese, said that the spin-off is a 'natural evolution' for the company following the remodel of its 500 locations and sees it as an 'opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences.' The company's expansion comes five years after it filed for bankruptcy during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Chuck E. Cheese spent $350 million in remodels over the past few years as well as introducing new pricing tiers to attract budget-focused families. The launch of Chuck's Arcade comes amid troubles for its chief rival Dave & Buster's. The latter is publicly traded and recently reported a 9.4% decline in same-store sales, with its new management trashing 'ill-advised changes' implemented by its previous leadership that included too many adjustments at once.
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
Chuck E. Cheese launches new arcade concept for adults
Chuck E. Cheese is creating arcades for adults and "lifelong fans" alike with the launch of Chuck's Arcade. The family entertainment company behind the popular children's arcade centers calls Chuck's Arcade "a modern-day love letter to the games and people who made Chuck E. Cheese great." "Chuck's Arcade is a natural evolution -- an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences," Chuck E. Cheese CEO David McKillips said in a statement. In a statement to "Good Morning America," Chuck E. Cheese spokesperson Alejandra Brady added, "We're excited to mark this next step in our journey, building on the full brand transformation of Chuck E. Cheese and showcasing the promotional strength of our brand and its beloved IP." What will Chuck's Arcade have? Chuck E. Cheese says Chuck's Arcade is a "new destination where nostalgia meets the future." The company said each location will feature different games, branded apparel, collectible toys, retro products, novelty candy and prizes. The arcades for adults will feature both classic retro games and new games, with familiar characters like Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and the brand's famous animatronic characters, including its namesake mouse. "Adding to the experience, each arcade is overseen by an animatronic character such as Chuck E. Cheese or one of the other characters from Munch's Make Believe Band -- historic figures from the brand's past, now standing watch as a nostalgic nod rather than performing," the company said. Where are Chuck's Arcade locations? According to Chuck E. Cheese, there are 10 Chuck's Arcade locations open in eight states from Connecticut to Texas, with a new California location opening in August at the Brea Mall in the city of Brea. Below, see a list of open Chuck's Arcades. Trumbull Mall in Trumbull, Connecticut; 5065 Main St Suite 185 Florida St. Petersburg, Florida; 2287 Tyrone Square Georgia Mall of Georgia in Buford, Georgia; 3333 Buford Dr. Missouri Kansas City, Missouri; 8809 State Line Rd. Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 1901 Northwest Expy Penn Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma; 7021 S Memorial Dr. New Hampshire Nashua, New Hampshire; 310 Daniel Webster Hwy Salem, New Hampshire; 99 Rockingham Park Blvd New York Texas El Paso, Texas; 8401 Gateway Blvd W
NBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Chuck E. Cheese has launched a new arcade, and it's for adults
Chuck E. Cheese wants to make sure the grown-ups have fun, too. The iconic kids arcade chain announced it's looking to cater to teens and adults by opening Chuck's Arcade locations across eight states, according to a news release. Chuck's Arcade will feature retro favorites like Ms. Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat and Centipede alongside newer games like Jurassic Park and Halo, the company said. There are already Chuck's Arcade locations in malls around the country, including in St. Petersburg, Florida; Trumbull, Connecticut; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Victor, New York; Buford, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire; and St. Louis. The location in Kansas City, Missouri, features a full menu and original artwork on the walls. The company said 'no two locations are exactly alike.' 'Chuck's Arcade is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences,' Chuck E. Cheese CEO David McKillips said in the news release. Each venue will be 'overseen' by one of the company's classic animatronic characters, from Chuck E. Cheese to other ones from Munch's Make Believe Band. A video on the company's website shows a statue of a character encased in glass in the middle of the arcade. Some locations will also sell clothing, toys and novelty candy, according to the company. The new locations come amid an ongoing rebrand for the company, which declared bankruptcy in 2020. A corporate restructuring and a $350 million investment then led to electronic ticketing, more adult menu items and new play areas at its hundreds of locations. In March, it announced it was removing the iconic animatronic band from its locations. 'Of course, if you think about entertainment 47 years ago, it was incredible to have the animatronic band and new music,' McKillips told NBC News at the time. 'But in reality, the animatronics were getting tired.' 'Kids are consuming entertainment on a digital platform,' he added. bet on arcade games last year.
