Is Chuck E Cheese Going Out Of Business

What Will Chuck E Cheese Look Like Post

A generation ago, Chuck E. Cheese was the place with the ball pit and the animatronic band and the lukewarm pizza consumed by children so they could keep playing games.

Today, the ball pit is gone and Chuck E. Cheese himself is sidelined from walking the floor due to COVID. Even the companys pizza recipe has been reimagined to reach a wider audience.

The pandemic has sped up the pace of change for the eatertainment brand and its parent company CEC Entertainment, which in June became the first major chain to declare bankruptcy amid the coronavirus crisis, the companys CEO David McKillips said in an interview with Restaurant Business Monday.

As the Irving, Texas-based company, which also operates Peter Piper Pizza and delivery-only Pasquallys Pizza, navigates bankruptcy proceedings, it is re-envisioning the future of its 43-year-old food-and-games concept Chuck E. Cheese.

Everything were doing, we want to have in-store, at home and online, McKillips said.

Case in point: Parties.

Birthday parties have historically made up 15% of Chuck E. Cheeses revenue, McKillips said. Due to capacity restrictions, the number of birthday parties that can be held at each location per day is greatly reduced.

We are significantly down in our birthday parties right now, in the comp basis, he said. Weve pivoted to delivery birthdays at home.

At-home offerings include goodie bags, tickets for future game play, branded tableware and photo backdrops.

What Brand Of Pizza Does Chuck E Cheese Serve

Pasquallys is a separate brand that has its own logo and premium menu, according to its parent company, CEC Entertainment Inc. It also refrains from referencing the anthropomorphic mouse mascot that Chuck E. Cheese is famous for. Pasquallys Pizza & Wings recipes use fresh, homemade pizza dough, just like Chuck E.

Read Also: What Is Vegan Cheese Made Out Of

Did Chuck E Cheese File Bankruptcy In 2020

Yes, Chuck E. Cheese entered bankruptcy in 2020. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pizza and entertainment company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company eliminated $705 million in debt and increased liquidity in order to continue operations in a stronger financial position.

Read Also: Does Babybel Melt

How Do You Get Free Chuck E Cheese Tickets

Referral Reward: More Cheese Rewards members earn 100 free tickets every time you refer a friend to the More Cheese Rewards program. You can earn referral rewards up to 20 times per year! Book a Chuck E. Cheeses birthday party online and youll receive both free tickets and free tokens or play points.

Cec Entertainment Which Also Owns Peter Piper Pizza Cited The Financial Strain From The Pandemic But Still Plans To Operate Venues

The parent company of Chuck E. Cheese declared bankruptcy on Thursday, citing store closures and stay-at-home orders during the pandemic as driving factors.

CEC Entertainment, which also owns Peter Piper Pizza venues, said in a news release that it filed for Chapter 11 protection to achieve a restructuring that supports its re-opening and longer-term strategic plans.

The company signaled no immediate plans to close any of its 612 Chuck E. Cheese locations a favorite destination for childhood birthdays or its 122 Peter Piper Pizza restaurants in four-dozen states. CEC has reopened about half of its 555 company-operated venues since states began lifting coronavirus shutdown orders and said it will continue offering dine-in, delivery and carryout services and hosting birthday parties during specific hours, as well as reopen more locations.

The restaurant and entertainment industries have been hard-hit by the coronavirus shutdown. FoodFirst Global Restaurants, the parent of Brio Italian Mediterranean and Bravo Fresh Italian chains, filed for bankruptcy protection in April, while the Le Pain Quotidien cafe chain followed suit in May, according to news reports. Some restaurants, including Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza, have moved to carryout and curbside pickup orders. But both chains reliance on interaction by way of arcade games, ball pits and mechanical claws made them particularly vulnerable in the age of social distancing.

Also Check: What Kind Of Cheese Is Baby Bell

Are Brio And Bravo Going Out Of Business

FoodFirst Global Restaurants, the parent company of Brio and Bravo restaurants, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2020 and temporarily closed over 70 of its over 92 locations. In June 2020, it was announced that Earl Enterprises, owner of such restaurant brands as Buca di Beppo, Planet Hollywood and Bertuccis, had acquired the company and planned to reopen the restaurants.

Types Of Restaurant Closings

As the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic continues, many businesses have been forced to make the difficult decision to close restaurant locations. Restaurant closings have come in a variety of ways:

• Temporary closings: Some restaurants have closed their dinning rooms temporarily, sometimes shifting their efforts to their online ordering for delivery or pickup. When reopening, restaurants have had to follow local occupancy guidelines.
• Permanently reducing locations: Many restaurant chains have had to permanently close some of their locations while keeping others open.
• Bankruptcy: If a business is in financial trouble and needs to reorganize its debts to continue operations, they can file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to the terms of their bankruptcy, retailers may have to reduce services, liquidate some assets or even close some locations to cut costs and cover debts.
• Going out of Business: Some restaurants have had to cease operations entirely. Depending on their financial situation, they may need to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which will entail going out of business and selling their assets to repay their debts.

Here is a list of major restaurant chains that have reduced some locations, filed for bankruptcy or gone out of business in 2021. .

Recommended Reading: Goat Cheese Charcuterie

The Rise And Fall Of Chuck E Cheese

• Atari came up with the idea for Chuck E. Cheese back in 1977.
• Combining Chuck E. Cheese was a success, and it rose to kids birthday party stardom by the 90s.
• But due to its $1 billion debt load and the COVID-19 pandemic forcing closures of all its locations, the parent company, CEC Entertainment, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2020.
• Experts say the company will be fine, but may come out of the pandemic and bankruptcy looking different.
• CEC Entertainment did not respond to Business Insiders request for comment.

Following is a transcription of the video .

Chuck E. Cheese Chuck E. Cheese When youre hungry for fun Its Chuck E. Cheese

Narrator: Chuck E. Cheese was once the go-to spot for birthday parties, marketing itself as a place where a kid could be a kid.

Kid: When my mom asked me where to go for my birthday, I said, Chuck E. Cheeses!

Narrator: With its infamous pizza, iconic games, and this guy.

Kate Taylor: People loved the rat.

Narrator: It was a huge success from the start.

Kate: Kind of like living your seven-year-old dream to just roll around in a ball pit and play some arcade games.

Narrator: Through the decades it became a behemoth of a brand. In 2019 Chuck E. Cheese saw $913 million in revenue. It had about 15,000 employees and over 600 locations across the globe.

But with nearly a billion dollars in debt and a 21% drop in sales in the first quarter of 2020, Chuck E. Cheese declared bankruptcy in June. So what happened?

Is Chuck E Cheese Going Out Of Business

As of now, CEC hasnt filed for bankruptcy. However, its future isnt looking rosy. The chain was hit extremely hard by COVID-19, as it was forced to temporarily close all its locations. Even though Chuck pivoted to takeout , delivering pizza alone couldnt help Chuck E. Cheese stay afloat. QSR reports that revenue fell by 94 percentduring the first week of quarantine across the country. This is due to the fact that over half of business comes from the restaurants arcade and entertainment venue.

Although Chuck E. Cheese recently released new safety guidelines for their locations, itll be hard for the company to be making the same kind of money they were pre-COVID. With fewer kids allowed in the arcade section of the establishment, parties, and the decreased utilization of the entertainment space, will Chuck E. Cheese ever recover? The guidelines also sadly stated, And for now, during phase 1 of reopening, Chuck E. himself will be resting until he feels ready to get back out on the dance floor.

i think we all know #WhatsNextForChuckECheese

Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Halloumi Cheese In Usa

Recommended Reading: Taco Bell Cheese Nachos

Are Lubys Cafeteria And Fuddruckers Going Out Of Business

In September 2020, Lubys Inc. announced that, upon board approval, they would be liquidating assets for the Lubys Cafeteria and Fuddruckers restaurants. Unless an offer to buy the brands is received, the restaurants will close permanently by the end of 2020. The company operated over 100 Lubys locations and there are over 90 Fuddruckers franchises.

What Age Is Appropriate For Chuck E Cheese

4-5 year old Birthday Parties Cheese! Designed for the kids who arent quite ready to join the big kids and tweens for fun and games, our tot activities feature a mix of fun rides, and video games that will leave them smiling all afternoon. And when you host a 4- or 5-year-old kids birthday party at Chuck E.

Don’t Miss: Dominos Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

The Unsinkable Chuck E Cheese Emerges From Bankruptcy

Although 2020 was the Year of the Rat, the good fortunes of famously beleaguered spokesrat Charles Entertainment Cheese seem to have been delayed until 2021. Yet here we are in a new year, after months of uncertainty and peril for the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant/arcade chain, with good tidings to share: CEC Entertainment has completed its financial restructuring and, according to Nations Restaurant News, emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy.

look forward to beginning a new chapter as a stronger and healthier company well positioned to execute on our long-term goals, said CEC Entertainment CEO David McKillips in a statement. Under new ownership, and with the leadership of our new Board, the CEC team is excited to continue delivering memories, entertainment, and pizza for kids and families around the world for generations to come.

The company has managed to pay off $705 million in debt and, per Nations Restaurant News, now has $100 million of liquidity to support operations and growth. But now that the empires future is bright, what might those new operations and growth opportunities be, exactly? More ghost kitchens? Burning heaps of prize tickets? Please, god, let it be the reinstatement of the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic house band. We could use their nostalgic sound right about now.

Also Check: What Sauce Is On Philly Cheese Steak Pizza

How Grocery Stores Are Handling Rising Food Prices

New York Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company, CEC Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy Thursday, blaming the financial strain caused by Covid-19 and the prolonged closures of its entertainment centers from stay-at-home orders issued across the United States.

— CNN Business’ Chris Isidore contributed to this report.

Also Check: Does Babybel Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated

Is Chuck E Cheese Going Out Of Business 2021

Is Chuck E. Cheese Going Out Of Business. According to reports, the kids entertainment space will close three dozen locations nationwide. Bloomberg also reported that after going public, chuck e.

But in actuality, it serves the same kind of food as chuck e. But it appears destined for a sale of some sort coming out of the.

Read More

• Nby Stock Forecast Zacks References

Financial Requirements And Fees

The family entertainment chain recently filed for bankruptcy, so the chance isnt good that you can still own a Chuck E. Cheese franchise. As it navigates the most challenging era in its history, CEC Entertainments CEO says that the food-and-games business might focus more on technology and at-home experiences.

But if, by some miracle, the pandemic ends and everything goes back to normal, all the available financial details that you need to know about this franchise opportunity are available here.

Note: Success or failure of this concept could be highly dependable on where you operate. Operate in a state with recurring lock-downs? Thats not great news. You need to be confident you can remain open prior to investing in this concept.

Did Chuck E. Cheese File for Bankruptcy? With $12 billion estimated debt, all CEC properties are threatened to close if the companys bankruptcy refinancing failed. The company filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on June 25, 2020. Chapter 11 is one of the most common divisions that companies adhere to when they are unable to pay their creditors but want to restructure and continue operating.

Also Check: What Sauce Is On Philly Cheese Steak Pizza

Chuck E Cheeses Parent Companys Merger Deal Collapses

Chuck E. Cheeses is not heading to Wall Street, at least not right now.

The owner of the pizza and games chain, Queso Holdings, has terminated its proposed reverse merger with blank check company Leo Holdings. That deal would have taken public CEC Entertainment, which operates Chuck E. Cheeses and Peter Piper Pizza.

No reasons were given for the termination.

The companies announced their proposed merger in April in a deal that would have returned CEC to the public markets five years after Apollo Global Management took the company private in a $1 billion deal.

Apollo has been trying to do something with CEC for much of the past two years. It was believed to be considering an IPO in 2017. The chain was then put up for sale, but Chuck E. Cheeses same-store sales began taking a hit.

The chain has been on something of a roll more recently. Same-store sales rose 7.7% in the first quarter. They slowed some in the second quarter. but company executives were satisfied with the results.

CEC had been planning to use $300 million in proceeds from Leo Holdings to pay down debt, and Apollo would have remained a majority owner of the company after the merger. It is uncertain what CEC plans to do now that its deal with Leo is off.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. .

Chuck E Cheese Could Go Bankrupt So Here Are Some Of The Consequences If That Happens

Chuck E Cheese could become the latest high-profile name in business to go bankrupt in 2020.

People Magazine, quoting the Wall Street Journal, reported that the parent company, CEC Entertainment, has nearly $1 billion in debt, partially because all of its 610 stores had to be closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Takeout, 17,000 employees were laid off due to the shutdowns.

Chuck E Cheese has always had pizza, of course its part of the appeal of the place, at least in theory. In practice, if their menu had anything else to offer, customers would likely order that instead. So in May they resorted to disguise in order to drum up some trickle of revenue, posing as Pasqualles Pizza on food delivery apps.

Don’t Miss: Does Babybel Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated

Is Le Pain Quotidien Going Out Of Business

Le Pain Quotidien filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2020 and closed all of its 98 locations in the U.S. In June 2020, Aurify Brands announced they had purchased over 40 of the U.S. locations of Le Pain Quotidien, with plans to reopen the restaurants starting in July 2020. The remaining restaurants would be permanently closed.

In November 2020, Aurify Brands purchases the New York City locations of bankrupt restaurant chain Maison Kayser, and announced plans to reopen 10 locations as Le Pain Quotidien.

Are Pizza Hut And Wendys Going Out Of Business

In the beginning of July 2020, NPC International Inc., a large franchisee of Pizza Hut and Wendys restaurants, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company operates over 1,200 Pizza Hut and over 380 Wendys locations across the United States. The restaurants will continue operations as the company seeks to restructure its debts. There are almost 8,000 Pizza Hut and over 6,000 Wendys restaurant locations in the U.S.

Don’t Miss: Does Laughing Cow Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated

Why Chuck E Cheese Needs To Destroy 7 Billion Paper Prize Tickets

COVID-19 shutdowns and a recent bankruptcy filing have left the chain with surplus tickets as it looks to go digital.

According to the United Nations, the world’s population hit 7.7 billion in the middle of last year. And according to Chuck E. Cheese, it has enough leftover paper prize tickets to give one to at least seven billion of us. CEC Entertainment, the ‘eatertainment’ chain’s parent company says that pandemic-related shutdowns have caused a serious backlog of prize tix, and it has asked a Texas bankruptcy court for permission to destroy all of them.

According to CNN, because the California-based chain has filed for bankruptcy, it has to get the court’s approval before it spends money on anything. The restaurant’s attorneys say that the cost of destroying the tickets will be $2.3 million, which is around $1 million less than it would cost if the tickets were circulated through the supply chain and distributed to restaurants. If that sounds like a lot of money, well, it’s because they’re dealing with a lot of tickets: seven billion paper tickets are enough to fill 65 forty-foot cargo shipping containers.

One of the first steps that McKillips took was partnering with third-party delivery companies like Grubhub and DoorDash to launch its own virtual brand, Pasqually’s Pizza & Wings, which offers “premium pizza” that has been prepared in and picked up from Chuck E. Cheese restaurants.