bzier
09-04-2006, 11:46 AM
So last Sunday (Sugust 27th) was my birhtday. So I decided in honor of that, I was going to take a trip back to my old stomping grounds of Southeastern Wisconsin. I visited 7 different CEC locations:West Allis, Milwaukee, Brookfield, Madison, Racine, Gurnee, and Rockford.
Day One I stopped off at West Allis, seeing as how this location holds the most impartance to me. I grew up going to this location, and had many birthday parties there before. It's been remodeled with the Phase 4, and I have to say I hate it. Seeing this store like that brought a tear to my eye. But at least they still have their Munch Band 1-stage. Chuck still had his tux and derby. The store seems smaller now. It's more of a mid-sized store.
My next stop on day one was out to Rockford Illinois to see the historic Rocker stage. When we got there, I thought the store was small, but had a really neat setup. The Showroom...it was great to see the Rocker stage again! Okay, so it wasn't quite like I remebered it, but it was pretty close. The only weird part weas hearing Chuck in Duncan's voice and hearing the Summertime show. All in all it looked pretty good. (except Chuck's body turn movement was broken)
Day Two I drove up to Madison Wisconsin to see their classic three stage Munch Band. Looked pretty good, except for Pasqually's hand movements not working. What was strange to me here was the fact that Jasper was the only character that didn't have the newer cosmetics, and Chuck had the burgundy Chuck E Cheese shirt instead of his tux or blue C shirt. This was a classic Showbiz-style store.
Next stop was Brookfield. I love the setup of this store. Always have. It's HUGE, and the Studio C still looks awesome. It may be only the second Studio C ever made, but it looks like new. Not one light or movement was out on the show. Great job guys!
Day three I visited Six Flags Great America, and realized there was a CEC right across the street! Of course I had to stop in. The store is a very average/medium sized store...alot like the one I work at. It has the 16 movement Chuck with Studio C Beta. The thing that surprised me here was how dark the showroom area was! Now, given the fact that they don't technically have a 'showroom' (no walls separating gameroom from showroom) in this location, I was shocked how much darker it was from the rest of the store. Also, great job to the cast working there! They were all so friendly and energetic! They surely had that CEC magic!
Next stop: Racine Wisconsin. This place was another mid-sized store, with Studio C alpha. Cool thing here was that their Chuck still had his black vest, instead of the newer blue C shirt. I never see that anymore!
Day four...the last stop. I made a quick stop up at the Chase Ave. store in Milwaukee at 9pm. Guess what? They had already turned the signs off and locked the doors...but I got in anyway! The place still looks great! Another HUGE location with an immense showroom. They still have the good-ol Munch Band 1-stage, with Chuck donning his tux jacket and his red C ball cap. I noticed on the tvs that they all said 'DVD player stop' ...so I take it they've converted over to DVD! Sadly, the show was already off here, so we didn't get to see the band in action.
After the trip, returnng to my store made me sad. I hate the Phase 4, (like we have), I hate Studio C beta, (like we have), and I miss the sheer largeness of these older stores I used to visit. Our store just seems so tiny in comparison to these other stores!
Day One I stopped off at West Allis, seeing as how this location holds the most impartance to me. I grew up going to this location, and had many birthday parties there before. It's been remodeled with the Phase 4, and I have to say I hate it. Seeing this store like that brought a tear to my eye. But at least they still have their Munch Band 1-stage. Chuck still had his tux and derby. The store seems smaller now. It's more of a mid-sized store.
My next stop on day one was out to Rockford Illinois to see the historic Rocker stage. When we got there, I thought the store was small, but had a really neat setup. The Showroom...it was great to see the Rocker stage again! Okay, so it wasn't quite like I remebered it, but it was pretty close. The only weird part weas hearing Chuck in Duncan's voice and hearing the Summertime show. All in all it looked pretty good. (except Chuck's body turn movement was broken)
Day Two I drove up to Madison Wisconsin to see their classic three stage Munch Band. Looked pretty good, except for Pasqually's hand movements not working. What was strange to me here was the fact that Jasper was the only character that didn't have the newer cosmetics, and Chuck had the burgundy Chuck E Cheese shirt instead of his tux or blue C shirt. This was a classic Showbiz-style store.
Next stop was Brookfield. I love the setup of this store. Always have. It's HUGE, and the Studio C still looks awesome. It may be only the second Studio C ever made, but it looks like new. Not one light or movement was out on the show. Great job guys!
Day three I visited Six Flags Great America, and realized there was a CEC right across the street! Of course I had to stop in. The store is a very average/medium sized store...alot like the one I work at. It has the 16 movement Chuck with Studio C Beta. The thing that surprised me here was how dark the showroom area was! Now, given the fact that they don't technically have a 'showroom' (no walls separating gameroom from showroom) in this location, I was shocked how much darker it was from the rest of the store. Also, great job to the cast working there! They were all so friendly and energetic! They surely had that CEC magic!
Next stop: Racine Wisconsin. This place was another mid-sized store, with Studio C alpha. Cool thing here was that their Chuck still had his black vest, instead of the newer blue C shirt. I never see that anymore!
Day four...the last stop. I made a quick stop up at the Chase Ave. store in Milwaukee at 9pm. Guess what? They had already turned the signs off and locked the doors...but I got in anyway! The place still looks great! Another HUGE location with an immense showroom. They still have the good-ol Munch Band 1-stage, with Chuck donning his tux jacket and his red C ball cap. I noticed on the tvs that they all said 'DVD player stop' ...so I take it they've converted over to DVD! Sadly, the show was already off here, so we didn't get to see the band in action.
After the trip, returnng to my store made me sad. I hate the Phase 4, (like we have), I hate Studio C beta, (like we have), and I miss the sheer largeness of these older stores I used to visit. Our store just seems so tiny in comparison to these other stores!