Haunted Chuck E. Cheese: San Jose's Kooser Ghost Stories

Is the Chuck E. Cheese location in San Jose on Kooser Road haunted? This location, which opened in 1978, has been the subject of some eerie rumours. Some claim that the site, which used to be a toy store in the 1970s, was the site of a little girl's tragic death. However, others dispute this, saying there is no evidence of any such fatality. The location has undergone several remodels over the years, and was the second-ever Pizza Time Theatre, but it closed permanently in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been proposed for an affordable housing project.

The site is now being used for an affordable housing project

The site of the former Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre on Kooser Road in San Jose, California, is being redeveloped for an affordable housing project. The project, proposed by Affirmed Housing, will consist of nearly 200 units and include amenities such as restaurants and retail. The site was purchased by the developer after the Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant closed in 2020 due to the financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The building has a long history, first housing a grocery store in the 1960s, before becoming the second-ever Pizza Time Theatre location in 1978. Over the years, the location underwent several remodels and changes in ownership, but it retained its status as the oldest Chuck E. Cheese's location in the company until its closure.

The new affordable housing project will provide much-needed housing in the area, and the inclusion of restaurants and retail spaces will enhance the convenience and appeal of the development. The project is located near another proposed affordable housing development targeting a former Fish Market restaurant site on Blossom Hill Road.

The Kooser Road site has been vacant since the Chuck E. Cheese's closure, and no progress has been reported on the proposed housing project as of early 2021. However, the plans for redevelopment demonstrate a commitment to utilizing the site for the benefit of the community, providing not only housing but also additional amenities and services.

The restaurant had a 2.5-star rating

The restaurant's rating may have been influenced by several factors. Some customers praised the food, with one reviewer commenting that the pizza was "pretty good" and "for the money, I rated it very good." The salad bar was also mentioned as being "clean and complete." However, other reviewers were less than impressed with the food, with one stating that the pizza was "not very good" and another claiming it was inedible.

The atmosphere and entertainment options seemed to be a draw for families with young children. The location offered games, a funhouse called Cheese E. Street, and various shows and animatronics. The restaurant was also known for hosting kids' parties. However, one reviewer mentioned that the location was often crowded, which could have impacted the overall experience.

Additionally, the service received mixed reviews. While one customer praised the staff as happy to help, another reviewer noted that the only reason people went to this particular Chuck E. Cheese was for little kids' parties. This suggests that the service and atmosphere may have contributed to the average rating.

It is worth noting that the 2.5-star rating may not reflect the full picture, as there were only a limited number of reviews available, and the restaurant has since closed down.

It was the second-ever Pizza Time Theatre location

The Chuck E. Cheese location at 1371 Kooser Rd in San Jose, California, was the second-ever Pizza Time Theatre (PTT) store to open. It first opened its doors on December 2, 1978, as a franchised Pizza Time Theatre with a Portrait Stage. With a square footage of 18,348, it was the largest pizza parlour in the city. This allowed for a dedicated room for its Portrait Show, which was programmed via a recording booth with a window overlooking the characters.

The Kooser Rd location originally housed a grocery store in the 1960s, and Pizza Time Theatre retained the original flooring and lighting for its first few months before replacing them with standardised tiling and lighting. The showroom floors were replaced with brown tiling, similar to other Pizza Time Theatres of that time, sometime between opening and October 1979.

The store opened with the Kooser PTT Show, which was replaced by "The Showboat" in May 1980. This new stage was designed after a vintage steamboat and featured all the characters on one wall, along with new Cyberamics. In 1981, the stage was again replaced, this time by a Balcony Stage. The location also received Cheese E. Street in 1983, an indoor funhouse with tubes, slides, ladders, and tunnels.

The Kooser Rd Pizza Time Theatre underwent several remodels over the years, including in 1981, 1988, 1991, 1996, 2006, and 2016. The 1981 remodel included a Fantasy Forest overhaul, colour-coded room signage, and an exterior remodel that removed the old grocery store entrances. The 1988 remodel converted the stage into a C-Stage, which was eventually converted into a 2-Stage. The 1991 remodel, part of the 1986 remodel program, redid the store's floor plan and lowered the ceiling.

The location was purchased by Showbiz Pizza Time on March 1, 1993, and was later remodelled in 1996 as part of the 1994 remodel program. It was also part of the "Cool Chuck" remodel initiative in 2006 and received Phase I. The final remodel took place in 2016 during the short-lived 2015 remodel program, likely to drive business back to the location as it had lost popularity.

The Kooser Rd Pizza Time Theatre was consistently overshadowed by the nearby Fontaine Rd location, which was larger and attracted more guests. The COVID-19 pandemic further stressed the store, leading to its permanent closure on June 25, 2020. After the closure, the show was destroyed, and the remains were sold for parts on eBay. The land was purchased for an affordable housing project, which is yet to be developed as of 2021.

This location holds a few distinctions: it was the first Pizza Time Theatre to receive an Atari Theatre, and it introduced Skee-Ball, which became a staple in Chuck E. Cheese restaurants.

It was the largest pizza parlour in the city

Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre on 1371 Kooser Road in San Jose, California, was the largest pizza parlour in the city. The store opened on December 2, 1978, and was the second Pizza Time Theatre location to open, as well as the oldest Chuck E. Cheese's location until its closure in 2020.

The building that housed Chuck E. Cheese's had previously been a grocery store in the 1960s. Pizza Time Theatre kept the original flooring and lighting from the grocery store for its first few months before replacing them with standardised tiling and lighting. Despite remodelling efforts over the years, the location was consistently overshadowed by the nearby Fontaine Rd. location, which was larger and attracted more guests.

The Kooser Rd. location offered many games and activities for kids, including Skee-Ball, which was first introduced at this location and later became a staple in Chuck E. Cheese restaurants. The restaurant also offered vegetarian options and was known for its salad bar. However, reviews of the pizza itself were mixed, with some praising it and others finding it inedible.

In addition to its pizza and games, the Kooser Rd. Pizza Time Theatre also had a dedicated room for its Portrait Show, programmed via a recording booth nearby with a window looking towards the characters. The nearby Dolli Dimples cabaret show featured a jukebox-like show selector that allowed guests to use tokens to choose Dolli's next act.

The store underwent several remodels over the years, including a complete overhaul in 1981 that included a new Fantasy Forest, colour-coded room signage, and an exterior remodel that removed the old grocery store entrances and placed new entrances in the front. In 1983, the location received Cheese E. Street, an indoor funhouse with tubes, slides, ladders, and tunnels. The store's final remodel took place in 2016 as part of an effort to drive business back to the location as it had lost popularity. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and competition from the larger Fontaine Rd. location led to its permanent closure on June 25, 2020.

The restaurant permanently closed on June 25, 2020

The Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre on 1371 Kooser Road in San Jose, California, permanently closed on June 25, 2020. The restaurant was the second-ever Pizza Time Theatre location and, until 2020, it was the oldest location in the company. The site opened on December 2, 1978, and was the largest pizza parlour in the city, with 18,348 square feet of space. Over the years, the Kooser Road location underwent several remodels and changes, including to its stage and flooring. In its final years, the restaurant struggled to compete with the nearby Fontaine Road location, which was larger and attracted more guests. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated its difficulties, ultimately leading to its permanent closure in 2020.

Following the closure, the show was destroyed as per CEC Entertainment policy, and the remains were sold for parts on eBay. The entire store was left in disarray, with all CEC branding either disposed of or vandalised. The land was purchased for an affordable housing project, which was reported by Bay Area NBC News in February 2021. As of that report, no progress had been made on the project, and the site remained vacant.

The Kooser Road location was known for its Atari Theatre and for being the first Chuck E. Cheese's to feature Skee-Ball, a game that later became a staple in the chain's restaurants. The site had a dedicated room for its Portrait Show, which was programmed via a recording booth with a window overlooking the characters. The restaurant also featured a Fantasy Forest, an indoor funhouse called Cheese E. Street, and a balcony stage that was eventually converted into a C-Stage and then a 2-Stage.

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