Ready for nostalgia? Step inside Chuck E. Cheese’s new adult arcade.
Chuck’s Arcade combines new and classic arcade games that targets adult audience.
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 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.”
What is Chuck’s Arcade?
Chuck’s Arcade is a spinoff of the original Chuck E. Cheese experience. Located in shopping malls, the arcades feature both classic and new games. Classics include Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Mortal Kombat, Donkey Kong and Centipede, and new offerings include Jurassic Park, Halo and Connect Four Hoops, according to a news release.
Is Chuck’s Arcade only for adults?
No, Chuck’s Arcade is for all ages. The arcades are just marketed for “adults and life-long fans” of Chuck E. Cheese, a news release states.
Does Chuck’s Arcade sell food?
The majority of Chuck’s Arcades do not sell food like a traditional Chuck E. Cheese. The exception is Chuck’s Arcade and Pizzeria in Kansas City, Missouri, which offers a full Chuck E. Cheese menu, including beer and wine, a CEC Entertainment spokesperson said.
Do Chuck’s Arcades feature animatronic bands?
No, sadly, Munch’s Make Believe Band is a part of the past. The animatronic band was removed from locations and discontinued in 2023. However, each arcade does feature a non-moving animatronic statue, including Chuck E. Cheese or another member of the band, a CEC Entertainment spokesperson said.
Where are Chuck’s Arcades located?
As of July 3, 10 Chuck’s Arcades locations are open:
- Mall of Georgia (3333 Buford Drive) in Buford, Georgia
- Woodland Hills Mall (7021 S. Memorial Drive) in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Tyrone Square (2287 Tyrone Square) in St. Petersburg, Florida
- Penn Square Mall (1901 Northwest Expressway) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Eastview Mall (7979 Pittsford-Victor Road) in Victor, New York
- Cielo Vista Mall (8401 Gateway Boulevard West) in El Paso, Texas
- The Mall at Rockingham Park (99 Rockingham Park Boulevard) in Salem, New Hampshire
- Ward Parkway Center (8809 State Line Road) in Kansas City, Missouri
- Pheasant Lane Mall (310 Daniel Webster Highway) in Nashua, New Hampshire
- Trumbull Mall (5065 Main St.) in Trumbull, Connecticut.
Another location will open at Brea Mall in Brea, California, in August, a CEC Entertainment spokesperson told USA TODAY.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
