Chuck E. Cheese is an American entertainment restaurant chain founded in 1977 by Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder of Atari, Inc. The chain is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and features arcade games, amusement rides, and musical shows in addition to serving pizza and other food items. The company CEC Entertainment, LLC., owns and operates Chuck E. Cheese and is located at 1707 Market Place Blvd., Suite 200, Irving, TX 75063.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Headquarters | Irving, Texas |
Address | 1707 Market Place Blvd., Suite 200, Irving, TX 75063 |
Phone Number | 972-258-8507 |
Email Address | [email protected] |
What You'll Learn
- Chuck E. Cheese is headquartered in Irving, Texas
- The company was founded in 1977 by Nolan Bushnell, co-founder of Atari, Inc
- The chain filed for bankruptcy in 1984 and was acquired by Brock Hotel Corporation in 1985
- The company owns and operates approximately 465 Chuck E. Cheese locations in the US and Canada
- Chuck E. Cheese offers party and event reservations, as well as group events and fundraising
Chuck E. Cheese is headquartered in Irving, Texas
The company was first founded as Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre by Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder of Atari, Inc. Bushnell aimed to expand video-game arcades beyond adult-oriented locations, such as pool halls, and into family-friendly venues. The first location opened in San Jose, California, in 1977 and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment.
In 1984, the company filed for bankruptcy and was acquired by Brock Hotel Corporation, the parent company of competitor ShowBiz Pizza Place, in 1985. The merger formed a new parent company, ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc., which began unifying the two brands. The company name was shortened to Chuck E. Cheese's in 1994 and then to Chuck E. Cheese in 2019.
In 1998, the parent company became CEC Entertainment, and the company has continued to acquire additional family restaurant properties. As of 2024, CEC Entertainment owns and operates approximately 465 Chuck E. Cheese locations in the United States and Canada, with 96 franchised locations in the US, Puerto Rico, and 16 countries worldwide.
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The company was founded in 1977 by Nolan Bushnell, co-founder of Atari, Inc
Chuck E. Cheese is an American entertainment restaurant chain founded on May 17, 1977, by Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder of Atari, Inc. The company was first named Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre and its headquarters are in Irving, Texas. Bushnell sought to expand video-game arcades beyond adult-oriented locations like pool halls and into family-friendly venues. He wanted to create a business of family-friendly restaurants with amusement park midway games.
The first location opened in San Jose, California, and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment, pioneering the "family entertainment centre" concept. By the end of 1979, there were seven Pizza Time Theatre locations, six in California and one in Nevada.
The company's name is derived from its main character and mascot, Chuck E. Cheese, who is the titular mouse mascot, a guitarist, and lead singer of the band. The name change from "Coyote Pizza" to "Rick Rat's Pizza" was prompted by the discovery that the costume bought for the main character, a coyote, was actually a rat. The marketing team believed that "Rick Rat's Pizza" would not be appealing to customers and proposed "Chuck E. Cheese" instead.
In 1984, the company filed for bankruptcy and was acquired by Brock Hotel Corporation, the parent company of competitor ShowBiz Pizza Place, in 1985. The merger formed a new parent company, ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc., which began unifying the two brands in 1990, renaming every location Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza. The name was shortened to Chuck E. Cheese's in 1994 and, again, to Chuck E. Cheese in 2019.
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The chain filed for bankruptcy in 1984 and was acquired by Brock Hotel Corporation in 1985
Chuck E. Cheese, the American entertainment and restaurant chain, filed for bankruptcy in 1984. The chain was founded by Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder of Atari Inc., in 1977. Bushnell sought to expand video-game arcades beyond adult-oriented locations, such as pool halls, and create family-friendly venues. The first location, Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, opened in San Jose, California, in 1977 and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment.
By the end of 1979, there were seven Pizza Time Theatre locations across California and Nevada. To expand beyond the West Coast, Bushnell began to franchise, resulting in a co-development agreement with Robert Brock of Topeka Inn Management in 1979. However, Brock would later terminate this agreement and, in 1979, form a competitor, ShowBiz Pizza Place, with Aaron Fechter of Creative Engineering, Inc. ShowBiz Pizza Place's first location opened in March 1980 in Kansas City, Missouri. Bushnell sued Brock for breach of contract, and the courts ruled in Bushnell's favour, forcing Brock to pay a percentage of annual revenues from the first 160 locations he opened.
In 1981, Pizza Time Theatre went public. However, the company focused more on the video game aspect of the business than on food quality, which was offered at premium prices. As the popularity of arcades began to decline in the United States, Chuck E. Cheese's revenues started to fall. The video game market crashed in 1983, and by mid-year, Pizza Time was operating at a loss. Bushnell's debts became insurmountable, and Pizza Time Theatre Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 1984, reporting a loss of $58 million in 1983.
In May 1985, the floundering company was purchased by Brock, merging the two restaurant companies into ShowBiz Pizza Time Inc. Both restaurant chains continued to operate under their original names while undergoing major financial restructuring. ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc. began unifying the two brands in 1990, renaming every location Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza. This was shortened to Chuck E. Cheese's in 1994 and, again, to Chuck E. Cheese in 2019.
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The company owns and operates approximately 465 Chuck E. Cheese locations in the US and Canada
CEC Entertainment, the owners of Chuck E. Cheese, currently own and operate approximately 465 locations in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and each location features arcade games, amusement rides, and musical shows, in addition to serving pizza and other food items. The company also owns and operates Fun Spot Arcade, a chain of mall arcades that has two locations in the United States.
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in 1977. It was founded by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, who sought to expand video-game arcades beyond adult-only locations like pool halls and create family-friendly venues. Bushnell drew on his experience in the amusement park industry and his fondness for the Enchanted Tiki Room and the Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland to develop the concept for Pizza Time Theatre. He chose pizza for the wait time and the build schedule, stating, "very few components, and not too many ways to screw it up."
Over the years, Chuck E. Cheese has expanded and evolved, with the chain being acquired by Brock Hotel Corporation in 1985 after filing for bankruptcy in 1984. The parent company became CEC Entertainment in 1998, and the brand has continued to expand and diversify its offerings. Today, Chuck E. Cheese locations can be found in 45 states across the United States, as well as in Canada, bringing fun and entertainment to families nationwide.
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Chuck E. Cheese offers party and event reservations, as well as group events and fundraising
Chuck E. Cheese is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and is well-known for its arcade games, rides, and musical shows, as well as its pizza and other food items. The company offers a range of party and event reservation options, including group events and fundraising.
Group Events
Chuck E. Cheese offers group event packages tailored to children's sports teams, summer camps, school field trips, and youth groups. These packages offer a perfect blend of affordability and fun, with features such as reserved table time, all-you-can-play games, pizza and drinks, grab bags, and customisable e-mail invitations. The packages are designed to be budget-friendly, with no deposit required and flexible cancellation policies.
Fundraising
The company also provides fundraising opportunities for schools and non-profit organisations. For these events, Chuck E. Cheese donates 20% of the event check sales back to the host group. The organisation can market the fundraiser to its members, and families can come and go during the event hours.
Birthday Parties
In addition to group events and fundraising, Chuck E. Cheese is well-known for its birthday party packages. These packages offer exclusive items for the birthday child, event décor, and all-inclusive experiences for guests. The birthday club membership is free and includes gifts such as gameplay, upgrades, and discounts.
Reservations
Reservations for group events and birthday parties can be made on the Chuck E. Cheese website or by contacting the local Chuck E. Cheese location. The company provides contact information, including an email address and a phone number, on its website.
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Frequently asked questions
The Chuck E. Cheese headquarters is in Irving, Texas.
The contact number for the Chuck E. Cheese headquarters is 972-258-8507.
The email address for the Chuck E. Cheese headquarters is [email protected]
The full address for the Chuck E. Cheese headquarters is 1707 Market Place Blvd., Suite 200, Irving, TX 75063.