I'm in shock

[mp3aa]

Today was the first day I set foot in a Chuck E. Cheese store in 21 years. I must say, I was not expecting what I saw.

The Phoenix store at 35th Ave & Northern.

It's basically the same store I saw back when it was ShowBiz.
All the stage characters are the same except they have Chuck E. Cheese costumes on.
From left to right it was Chuck E., Helen, Munch (in place of Fatz), Jasper and Pasqually on the drums.

It was fairly pathetic, IMO. The eyes, jaws, and eyelids were very shabby.

Tell me this isn't what all Chuck E. Cheese store are like these days!!

[joshferrell]

nope,you're lucky you have the GOOD robots,most stores have studio-c'a (which ONLY consist of chuck e cheese as a robot and the other charadters are puppets on tv screens) so even though what you saw was pitiful,they're better than studio-c...

[mp3aa]

I took a ride over to what is billed as, "The 500th Chuck E. Cheese Store" in Glendale, AZ.
I went inside. Waited in line! What? No tables available.
I lie and say I'm looking for my party. The dude lets me in.
I walk around.
I see the Studio C stage. One full size Chuck E. and a bunch of video screens.

I'm thinking it's time to bring back the balcony and lounge characters. Somehow, somewhere, someway.
I was thoroughly disappointed.
Sigh.

[MMBBfan327]

As much as we'd all love that, it will never happen.

[CEC Kid Check]

:eek :eek :eek
Wow MP3AA!!!!
Our 3 stage is still there!!:lol
I've been wanting to visit that store for months, but its kinda far out of my way. Everytime I went to that store (35thave. and Nothern) its in the worst shape! But I didn't care, since thats the only 3 stage in AZ. I'm just happy to hear that its still a 3 stage, I was fearing that the converted to a Studio C, and I missed out on the garbage diving;)
You gotta keep me updated on that store, I've been making plans to drive down there, but never got to it.
As for the "West Bell" store (as we call it) otherwise known as the "500th store," that store is even further out of my way, but I did manage to make it there on the first day, and man was it crowded. We waited like you did, to just get in, and then there was no table, but I managed to get this rare pin for my lanyard:b
I work at the Scottsdale store; I don't know what part of AZ you live in, but you should definantly visit me or my store! Out of all the Studio C's in AZ, mine is the best working!:D

[mp3aa]

I'm in Glendale.
Where in Scottsdale?
I'll have to let you buy me lunch some day. :rollin

I'm still feeling a little heartbroken.:o

[pizzacam]

Haha finally experienced the sadness of what "CEC" is today huh? They might as well have changed the name of the place along with everything else right, cause that place they have today...just isn't Chuck E. Cheese |I I mean even in '91 the place was different but at least the show worked and the pizza was better. :\

[pizzacam]

BTW check out the pics of 35th and Northern when I went in '95...already sad! The masks don't fit and it looks like a tech there at the store made all the props..?? :lol

sp-com.tripod.com/pizzacam/pizzacam/page03.html (http://sp-com.tripod.com/pizzacam/pizzacam/page03.html)

[mp3aa]

When our Chuck E. Cheese's closed, I went to work for Auto Photo Company. Now called Photo-Me USA. I'm still working for them. 21 years now.
Anyway, I had photo booths in the Northern ShowBiz and the Alma School ShowBiz for a few years.
Corporate ShowBiz made these 2 franchises remove my booths because the corporate stores didn't have them, and they wanted all the stores to be alike.

Don't know if that's the way Chuck E. Cheese operates today.
If anyone, anywhere wants an authentic photo booth for one of your Chuck E. Cheese stores, let me know!
We do a great share and service the booths ourselves.
All you do is supply the spot and electric! Makes great money!

[pizzacam]

Yes...they're all about uniform today. They want it to all be crap.

[mp3aa]

Sigh......
The more things change, the more they stay the same.:rolleyes

[menutia]

As Chuck E. Cheese says:
Franchise... what's a franchise???


~Menutia

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Welcome to our world man!

CEC has been turned into a bit of a bland spot now...but it's still a place today's kids like to go. Sure it's a shame they will never get to experience all the cool stuff we did back in the day, but at least CEC is still around.

If they never tried anything new or changed, CEC would surely be dead by now. I have to keep telling myself this on a regular basis as i too miss the great atmosphere of the past days but i can appreciate and value the changes too on a level.

Let's just be glad we still have the Animatronic Show in the building.

:)

[sungun12]

ok, i just have to go off on this.....yes, we all love old school cec, what it was like when were kids. but seriously, come on. being mad because they upgrade and change with the times, thats life. what do you think wouldve happened to mcdonalds if they never upgraded or remodeled their stores for 20 years!!

its fun to go into an old store where it looks and smells like what it did when i was 5. but guess what, those stores that are still like that, are crapholes which make no money. the general public (as in, not the freaks like us) want new clean stores. id be stoked to see old 80's style games in a cec but my brother who is 8? he makes fun of me when i break out the nintendo. its a while different generation. my brother doesnt know what Atari is...kids dont care if its a 3 stage, a one stage, Studio C, and all parents are only there to eat and play games with their kids and they want it to be clean and fun. Period.

[mp3aa]

I was looking at it purely from a former technical director's viewpoint.
That was the best job I ever had.

[Billy Bob Brockali]

Oh boy, I just can't help myself here. It's easy to defend current CEC, especially if you work there. But there is no way to actually say whether or not the original concept would work in today's environment.

"Clean and new" does not have to mean white walls, boring carpet, and a show aimed for five year olds. The sucess argument just doesn't do it for me either. Just because McDonald's sells a billion burgers a day doesn't mean they are they greatest burgers in the world. It just means they are easy, and "good enough" to be popular. I put the current CEC in that same boat. It's not too great, but it's easy - and parents are familiar with it. Those factors don't say much about the actual concept, or overall happiness with the experience.

It's easy to say "kids don't care", but we'll see if in the future, there are kids who are so touched by the September 2006 show, that they remember it 20 years later. I just don't see that happening.

[sungun12]

mcdonalds is successful because of ONE reason, Ray Kroc said it himself. It all had to be uniformed. its a feeling of consistency. Their cheeseburgers may not be the greatest in the world, but if you get one in NYC or one in a tiny little town in New Mexico, THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME. Its comfort and creates familiarity. No matter where you are, you can always count on that cheeseburger.

a show aimed for 5 year olds?? well who else is it for??? they sure dont make it for us! Of course its made for 5 year olds, THATS THE AVERAGE AGE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT CLIENT - KIDS!!! yes, i miss old school cec but no, i dont ever remember one song i heard while i was there. just like these kids wont remember one song they hear on the new show.

Its not about being too easy its about keeping a company running in todays market. and WE (i say we because i DO work there and I love my job and i would defend it to my death) are pretty damn good at it. When chuck e comes out and you see the face of a 3 year old just in complete amazement and excitement - THATS what makes it worth it. THATS what the kid, and the parents, will remember.

[pizzacam]

I think that was kind of the point though it was successful back then too when it WAS aimed at teens and kids it didn't need Eddie Coker and a toddler zone. :rolleyes As most things it bacame money money money how can we get more how can we spend less well now it's pfft CEC!

[Billy Bob Brockali]

"i miss old school cec but no, i dont ever remember one song i heard while i was there. just like these kids wont remember one song they hear on the new show."

This just proves we are different and there is no point in arguing. People who like CEC today must like it for something that I am totally incapable of identifying with.

All I know, is I remember both of my visits to PTT in the 80s and CEC in the 90s, and in my opinion, there is definetly something missing now. There are occassional employees that care about the concept, but as a whole, what you find is teenagers that aren't trained or supervised correctly, and managers that seem to have a "how did I end up here" look on there face. And I must be crazy for constantly going back and thinking things will be different.

[mp3aa]

Well, back in the early '80's, we had Dollie Dimples and the older folks liked what she did.
Next room over we had The Beagles. Teens and younger adults gathered there.
In the newer store, The King would appeal to adults.
The balcony stage show in the theatre catered to just about everyone.
Little kids liked the characters and the older folk "got" the jokes and witty banter between characters.

There was nothing at the newer CEC that would bring me back there.

[sungun12]

but it WASNT successful in the late 80's when it was aimed at kids and teens. CEC almost went under. and if they hadnt changed the concept, they wouldve.

when i said i didnt remember the songs, i meant that literally. some people freak out about the songs and the show and no, i dont remember one song that i heard. but i remember everything else. like i did say, theres nothing like going into an old school store and getting that smell that just takes you back to your 5th birthday party. i remember the clapping hands, and the token wheel and the big yellow climbing area, the king, the sundae bar, all of that stuff.

MP3AA, none of that was directed at you. you went there, you didnt like it and you wont go back. and that makes sense to me.

What i dont understand (and i know im gonna get it for this one...) is the people on here who whine and complain ALL THE TIME about how much CEC sucks, and its gone to crap, and all they care about is money...-WELL THEN WHY THE HELL DO YOU STILL GO THERE ALL THE TIME AND WASTE YOUR TIME COMPLAINING ABOUT IT ON A MESSAGE BOARD?!?!?!

If you dont like it, ok thats fine. then stop going! and stop bashing CEC every chance you get! I was under the impression this was supposed to be a FAN site, for all of the different times and versions this company has had. instead of just bashing CEC, use one of the other topics to rant about what you love.

Look, I know i probably ticked off some people here, but Ive just been dyin to say it. I love my job. Im not one of those GM's with stupid teenagers who dont care as I walk around with a confused look on my face. I run a good store because I believe in the concept. Like I said before, I beg all of you to go get in that suit (yes, i still do it) and see what its like thru Chuck E's eyes - knowing that YOU just made that kid sooo happy. Its something I FEEL when Im there and THATS what its all about.
If you care about your cm and your guests, the money and profit just happens. if you worry about money, everything else falls apart. i dont worry about money, or spending, or profit. i spend all my time training and worrying about guest service and cleaning and it just so happens that made me the #1 store in the company in profit for July. And Im pretty much sure Ill be #1 for August too.
So come check out my store, you would see cm that care, a show that works perfectly, its impecably clean and a gameroom thats on its 13th day without a game tagged.

[RockAFireFanatic]

I was at the Chuck E Cheese in Phoenix (when I went there to see my grandma,aunt and cousins) that has the munchs make believe band still I didnt think it was so bad cus I was used to the stupid Studio C thing at all the las vegas locations I had more fun at the one in Phoenix than I ever did at the vegas ones

[Billy Bob Brockali]

SunGun,

I am really glad that you feel so strongly about supporting your store, and your belief in the current concept. Although I stand by my previous statements, I think if more employees shared 1/4 of your enthusiasm - it would be different for the "old school whiners" like myself.

While you are correct about PTT closing in the 80's, a lot of the financial trouble that caused SPT to change gears was not neccessarily failure of the concept. SPP made a bad decision to take on PTT's debts in 1983 as a way to clear away the losses they would incur as a result of losing the earlier lawsuit. That, combined with the industry-wide video game crash caused them to do something drastic after just going public with an offering. This was when they had to bring in outside financial backing, and outside management, in the form of Dick Frank. It took a lot of things happening to result in the loss of the original concept.

We will never see eye to eye, because we are just coming from different places. I don't see my posts as whining or complaining. Just as some come here to wax about how much they love things they way they are, this is a "fan" board - not neccessarily a "positive comments-all the time" board. I do love to post technical things, and make positive posts about my old memories, but part of this board is also going to neccessarily be some negative criticism about the current state of things from people who really, really, really miss the old days - so much so that they dedicate enough time to start websites :) , and that sort of thing. It's easy to say "move on" or "get over it", but it's much harder to do. Nostalgia is a very powerful thing. What else is the internet for, anyway? If you love the way things are great - you can visit a real CEC. If you love the old days - your memories, this site, and it's members are all you've got. It's virtual, but it's ours!

While you may not see my point of view, I just want to try to make clear where some of us on this side of the fence may be coming from.

[sungun12]

this whole thing wasnt exactly directed at you either BBB. And I do see your point of view. And I (obviously) LOVE debating about stuff. I just hate when people write, oh CEC sucks...and thats it. Lets argue about it! Thats the fun of the internet. And I know there wont always be positive comments, this isnt a 'lets kiss CEC's ass' message board, but like I said, post some stuff so we can debate about it instead of just random negative comments.

As far as nostalgia, I miss the old Bridgeville store, the one they were in when I started. It had the same smell as it did when I was little (my pre-school was right down the road, It was rare my gram didnt take me there afterwards, she would just sit there chain smoking and let me play) and although what was inside the rooms was different, it still had all of the old rooms. I miss the people who were there when I started. Well, some of them, haha. But not too long after I left there, they got a new store and eventhough ive worked in it a bunch of times, its weird.

But anyways, I just dont want you to think I dont see where your coming from at all or I dont respect your opinion or the fact that you express it, cause I do. The only thing worse than a different opinion is no opinion. Without differences, the world would be, um....communist I suppose, right?? haha. at any rate, i need to get to bed, i open tomorrow.

[mp3aa]

Geez, I didn't mean to cause such a fuss.

I remember taking my grandma to a Chuck E. Cheese in Schenectady, NY back in 1984. I was visiting and had to show her the type of place I worked. She thought it was nice.
Didn't get to meet the tech there.

I did go to California for my "degree".
Oh, now I have to go get it off the wall of my garage and scan it.

http://www.users.qwest.net/~mp3aa/degree1.jpg

I went to Garden Grove with techs from all over the country to train.
After a day of training, we went to a store, I think in Anaheim, to overhaul the characters.
Had a good time.

[Billy Bob Brockali]

Thanks MP3AA, your appearance here is great. Stir things up a bit! (j/k) But it is great to have an original cyberamics tech here. We could've used you at CV3 - A lot of us fans try to piece together the way some of the old tech works, and it's always good to find someone who knows how it went together back then.

and Sungun, if i ever get my ass outta texas, I'll visit your store! I bet you don't make people wait a half-hour for a pizza when theres no one else in the building like in S.A. ...

[sungun12]

yea MP3AA - its all your fault!! hahaha, anyways, that is a really cool certificate to see, that is waaaaaaay old school. Very nice

30 minute pizza times??? Oh you better believe mine are under 10. heck yes. who knows, maybe someday Ill end up in Texas! I never seem to be in a store for a long time. Im working on my 9th month here, im sure its almost that time to move along....

[porkcurtain]

See.. I was on Sungun's side until the Eddie Coker card was played...

There's no way in hell I'm convinced 5 year olds, 10 year olds, or 40 year olds like Eddie Coker. He isn't entertaining... He makes me hate humanity.

[ChuckEZone]

What i dont understand (and i know im gonna get it for this one...) is the people on here who whine and complain ALL THE TIME about how much CEC sucks, and its gone to crap, and all they care about is money...-WELL THEN WHY THE HELL DO YOU STILL GO THERE ALL THE TIME AND WASTE YOUR TIME COMPLAINING ABOUT IT ON A MESSAGE BOARD?!?!?!



*applause*

[pizzacam]

this isnt a 'lets kiss CEC's ass' message board

LOL you could've fooled me...but I guess no one remembers how this board was when it first started. Many people don't even wanna post anymore or come around because it's so..."I love CEC and Studio C". I guess we are gonna have to just agree to disagree. :rolleyes

[sungun12]

I LOVE Eddie Coker....I think he's dreamy - I have posters of him on my wall in my room....

:rollin