new Lakeland FL store

[bzier]

Well today 2/20/2006 it is official...

The old Lakeland #426 store featuring Munch's Make-Believe Band 1-stage is no more. We began gutting the place late last night, and corporate is coming today to take all the old games and stuff out.
Our new store, which happens to ALSO be CEC #426 - right next door, opened officially at 9am with Studio C Beta. We have some awesome games at the new store, but the place is smaller and the show sucks compared to the good 'ol Munch Band.

-That's right, now's the time to take Lakeland off the existing stage list. :( We're a Studio C just like most other stores down here now.

I'll have some pics of both places soon...I hope!

*On a side note...I noticed our Studio C show is the 16 movement animatronic, and from what I've been told, the only stores that would be getting 8-movement bots would be smalltown CECs. Also, I noticed that there is no helicopter light included in our Studio C. I know Clearwater's Studio C Beta had one, but we don't! (another stupid cost-cutting move!)

[bzier]

I forgot to mention...as a new store, Corporate has given us first-of-a-kind BRAND NEW uniforms! They are two-toned, with Black on the sleeves and around the sholders and a dark blue on the bottom. The CEC logo is on the upper left chest where it's always been, but the words 'Chuck E Cheese's' wraps around the left sleeve. These shirts are worn with BLACK pants, and are not to be tucked in. In my honest opinion, they look like bowler jerseys! But they're still pretty cool.
Because of these uniforms, gameroom ref shirts, team 2 shirts and the classic red CEC shirts are now no longer permitted to be worn as uniform. And from what I've been told, there will no longer be Team 2's OR Birthday Coordinators anymore.

-Talk about some big changes!

[chuckrules]

Corporate quit picking on the shows.:( | I Cut cost somewhere else. like for instants building newer stores. Which I know Jenn would agree with on there also!

[TreyTX]

great news about the new store. So my question is, What are they going to do with the 1 stage show...are they planning an auction? I would be intrested in the stage/curtains etc.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

I serious doubt it. Usually what happens to old shows like that is this: Destroyed and sent to the dumpster, or what's left is salvaged for parts at another location. Since there are no longer any MMBB stages in that area judging by the post, more then likely the old show was trashed and sent to the scrap heap.

So typical.

So yet another remnant from the past is leveled all in the name of "progress". One has to ask oneself though....is THIS really "progress" for the concept we know as CEC?


I enjoyed hearing about the new uniforms. Awesome....it's long overdue and it's nice to hear about the new look down there.

[pizzacam]

Not true Trey...The 2 stage at the Walzem store here in San Antonio was auctioned off WITH the computer...;)

[bzier]

No Auctioning here...

from what I've seen and been told, The GM from Brandon is fighting the techs to get parts from that show for his Munch Band. I know their show over there is REALLY OLD!!! I think the store opened in 1980...and those bots sure are classic looking! Jasper has his wrinkles, and Chuck's nose points upward instead of downward. I don't know if he'll be successful in getting parts though. When I was over there earlier today, the guys said they were getting ready to rip them apart.

I was tempted to sneak back in the old store last night and pack all the bots up in my van! (I'm kicking myself for not saving the Munch Band!)

[pizzacam]

Damn! That'd be me at night with all my friends jacking the bots and losing my job but not caring! :lol

[cec080]

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!! CHUCK E CHEESE LEAVES HIS BAND BEHIND! DETAILS AT 6 ON CEC TV NEWS.

bzier: what happened to all of the old food and stuff that was left. hey did you get the show tape? or some little momentum of that store?

[dheineCECfan]

bzier: I hope the new improved Lakeland, Florida CEC location will be better than the old Lakeland location!

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Yes, Brandon is indeed a Golden Oldie!

The place opened in 1980 i beleive....i practically lived there back starting in the summer of 81'. Even then, the place had some very old stuff....late 70's stuff and merch even. It is very possible it was one of the first PTT's to open in Fl but i cannot confirm this. I know for ages it has been a Traninig Store.

One of these days i have to return there.....the effect that place had on me in the day. All of the "Classic Era" photos contained in my Photo Gallery here were taken at Brandon. The place rocked in the old days...i can only imagine what it must be like now with all the walls knocked down and the huge layout changed around.

One of these trips to Fl i have to find a way to get there! Next trip: March 20-24. Hmmm.....

[MMBBfan327]

OOOO the week b4 my bitrhday!!! haha, Jenn, let us know if you ever return to Brandon and fill us in with the details!!! I too, am curious to find out what has changed.

[YoungCaliHottie]

do u have a pic of the new uniforms?

i found this pic below. is this it? if not, what is it?

http://i17.ebayimg.com/05/i/06/4f/93/63_1.JPG

[bzier]

No...that's not the new uniform...but it is a cool t-shirt!

Our new uniforms are dark blue and black with a small CEC logo on the left breast.

As for Brandon, it is the ONLY location in central Florida that has not been given the Phase 4 makeover yet. This is also one of the only stores in central Florida that still has a REAL Showroom - an actual separation between it and gameroom.
Brandon just recently got the 'C' shirt and hat for Chuck. I was bummed out when I saw that last week...because the previous visit there he still had his derby and tux.

[bzier]

Jenn...let me know when you'll be in town! Maybe we could meet up in Brandon. I love that place because it's the only location down here that still has some of that PTT 'feel' to it, and it's one of the only stores with the Munch Band left!

[YoungCaliHottie]

if anyone has an extra shirt of the new uniform, please email/aim me at: youngcalihottie@aol.com ;)

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Bzier...i'd love to come back to Brandon and visit! Sadly i have yet to have been able to get in that area as when i come to FL i am usually stationed in Orlando and i do not have transportation. I would need to hook up with someone who could take me there and back...

As for Brandon still having that "PTT feel" i'm very happy to hear this. It should, as the place opened during the best era. It's a 1980 opener, so it's a gem by all standards. I'm stunned that they were still using the walkaround Tux and derby. Holy BatMunch! And this is a Training Store?? How the heck did THAT get by Randy the RM? Wow...i'm amazed but perhaps the staff there hated the "new" look as much as i do....we fought hard to keep using our Tux and derby too.

Brandon was awesome in the day--full PTT Balcony with all possible early assesories: Flag Wavers, Clapper Board, Band Board ( freaking awesome!) and additonal understage attractions like Munch's Madhouse and the famous Cheese Maze. It was also one of the small handfull of test locations to recieve the rare "CEC's Ice Cream Emporium"s which was built into the building right next door between PTT and the local KMart. This of course featured the super-rare "Little Shavers".

The Brando location also boasted several classic Cabaret Shows and Lounge Acts including Dolli Dimples, The King, and shortly afterwards The Beagles.

The Game Room was huge and i can only imagine how much more space they must have to play with now that all the multiple original walls have been knocked down. The Kitchen was also huge ( a hallmark of any original PTT building pre-1984) with the traditional gaping Pick Up Window. This location also sported a additional room, a Sports Room per say that had a huge projector tv with programs on for the adults to enjoy in a seperate area of their own.

I cannot stress the impact this location had on me back in 1981. I practically lived there for much of 82' and saw Harmony Howlette and Madame Oink on stage there before leaving FL to live up here in MA. The place was magical, and everything was awesome. My experiences there had a huge influence on who i was to become, and in what direction my life was to turn. I would say that my times at the Brandon CEC back then directly influenced my future venues into entertainment and puppetry...without a doubt! It's hard to put into words the meaning this single place has had to me. I'd love to someday return even though it will be sad in a way as all my memories of the place, and numerous photos i have, are all from it's glorious past. I know it will be hard to come to grips with how "modern" it must be now.

Thank the Gods at least they luckily have missed out on the Phase 4 remodel to date! Maybe i still have a chance! LOL!!! :lol