CECPTT Odgen, Utah location (1979-1992/1993)

[dheineCECfan]

Is there anyone who wish have visited between 1979 and 1992 the Odgen, Utah Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre location (that TreyTX took pics of in 1991 and are part of Pizzacam's Picture Gallery in Trey's Pics Page along with a photo of Donny Osmond and a 1980's walkaround CEC taken at the same Odgen, Utah location) where it had old 1977-1980 CECPTT store front signage and the show was in wall portrait animatronics on a shelf setting? The Odgen, Utah location closed down all because of corporate's wishes in 1992-1993 despite plans for a remodeling of the location.

[MMBBfan327]

Yes, I TOTALLY wished I could have gone. The place looks so cool! From the looks of the showroom, I think they took out the portrait robots and put in balcony robots. Is that true? I'm sue Trey would know. Also, is that a TV in front of The KING? Very interesting that this location still looked as it did in 1979 when it closed in 1993, huh? What do you think it would look like now if it was still opened? Does anyone know what store is there now?

[CEC3066]

at some point b4 the store closed the show was changed to the C stage porch show. Trey bought the store from the previous owner & found the C Stage installation kit behind the skeeball lanes.

[MMBBfan327]

Are you serious? Trey actually OWNED the store? Wow, he's gotta have a whole bunch of different pics, huh? I wonder why they decided to close this store. Does anyone know any actual reasons besides "Corprate's Wishes?" That could mean anything like they wanted to use the building for more marketable reasons, or they felt this store is just not doing to good. If they closed for no reason, there's gonna be some booty kicked tonite! Haha, just kidding. ;) Anyway, How did Trey buy it and how long did he own it?

Trey, you HAVE TO EMAIL ME ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, what's there now?

[dheineCECfan]

Actually, in 1991 the Odgen, Utah CECPTT location still had the wall portrait robot/balcony shelf set up according to the 1991 pics Trey took of the location.

[MMBBfan327]

Yes, Darryl, that's ture--however I think what CEC3066 meant was in 1992/1993 a "C" Stage was installed.

[dheineCECfan]

I think they attempted to remodel the Odgen, Utah CEC location to replace the wall portrait balcony/shelf show with the C stage circa 1992-1993 but then corporate wanted to shut down the location after 13-14 years.

If only Trey could shed more light on the CEC/PTT Odgen, Utah location that had the Concept Unification plan that never was and even shed more light on loaning to VegaNova the CECPTT Foxy Colleen Irish Stew show from circa 1979-1980 he still has in his possession...

[MMBBfan327]

Yeah, how come he never talks to us about this? Man, there's so much I want to know, as a lot of us do, and it seems only HE can provide the answers!

[pizzacam]

yup he's a slowpoke... >:

[CEC3066]

i'm not sure of the year but I DO know a C stage was in fact installed. Trey mentioned this in an email to me.

[dheineCECfan]

So it might have been true that the wall portrait shelf/balcony show at the Odgen, Utah CEC location lasting from about 1979 to 1991/1992 was replaced for about a brief time by the C stage show before its circa 1992/1993 store location closing.

[MMBBfan327]

Correct.

[MMBBfan327]

That'd be cool if you went to the store that used to be the CECPTT Odgen, UT location, and in the back there was a sealed up room that you got into that had old PTT stuff including the robots, signage, and that really cool sign by the ordering counter that was of all the PTT characters together as seen in the Picture Gallery.

Trey, I'M BEGGING YOU!!!!!!!! Please tell us more, we would REALLY love to hear what you have to say, especially since you owned it at one point! Is this so much to ask of you?

[MMBBfan327]

Okay, Trey, I'm begging you. I'm on my knees!!! PLEEZ get on the board and tell us about the Odgen, UT CECPTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dheineCECfan]

...MMBBFan is still begging on his knees to know what became of you regarding 1979-1992/1993 PTT/CEC in Odgen, Utah!

[MatHat13]

or something like that

Can you tell me why you always put in your statement sentances as "or something like that"?

[dheineCECfan]

MatHat: I just removed the "or something like that" phrase from the previous post on this thread.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

I remember the first time i saw Trey's photos of this rare location and thinking---holy crap what is this?? They jumped out at me as it was obvious that the store was never "updated" and managed to keep all it's original decor and wall paintings.

It was incredible! They even managed to keep the original Marquee Logo sign from 79'! Awesome stuff!

Regarding the show....the Showroom is setup to resemble the original show layout from 79's with the upper walls lined with the characters. The original Portrait Bots' however are not shown in the 91' photos...they are remakes with later Cyberamic cosmetics on them. Basically it looks like someone carefully recreated a Portrait Style show with late 80's Cyberamic cosmetics. Still cool though, as it combines both the nostalgia of the original and the newer more familar Cyber-look.

Some years later it dawned on me that perhaps the reason this store was preserved as a sort of "living museum" to the PTT past was because it was a tribute to Nolan Bushnell. Just a therory, but it would fit. He was born and schooled in Utah before moving to CA to begin his career in video games and pizza parlors. Perhaps the previous owner of the Store took it upon themselves to preserve the original version of the building. Rather nice when you think of it this way...

I was so sad when i learned this location was closed up by Corp. So what has become of the space now? Is it a "new" CEC or was the place closed and resold to another business?

[MMBBfan327]

OMG I would be so depressed if they closed it then made a new CEC there. Oh, that would suck! However I do believe it is another business, or perhaps it's even demolished now, who knows? And I can totally agree with Jenn with what it was like to see those pics for the first time. I was like, "Whoa check this out!" Those pics are truley too cool.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Yes, all the original equiptment and games were still there ( judging by what i saw in Trey's photos) and the original wall paintings too which were covered over in later years at other locations.

Great stuff...it's too bad he did'nt shoot a walk-through video. Man i would love to see that!

[VegaNova]

I got the whole scoop from the man himself. Granted this was an e-mail from June of 2000, but here's what happened....

"I have read your new portion about the way corporate has harrased you to remove that site and I have to tell you that I can understand with you as when I was in the process of buying the store in Ogded, UT they flew like 8 corporate people including Dick Frank with coprorate Lawyers and gave us legal notices that we had 60 days to be completely remodeled (unification-Base A) since they had been sending the previous owner these letters but he did nothing about it. Anyway we had to spened (but we didn't) over $300,000 on this store including new exterior signage from PTT to CEC's, paint the outside from brown/orange to white with checkers, new carpet blue or green, new booths and hanging penent lighting, paint interior walls and add checkers, new game selection to include sky tubes, new order counters with self serve beverage bar, and $50,000 to upgrade show from shelf to the Munch's Make Belive Band-full bodies. Anyway this never took place and when the time came in they cancelled the franchise and removed the signs throughout, all manualls, took the employees uniforms and removed the characters masks but left the bodies-since i actually owned the physical robots and computer system just not the name and likeness. They also put a sign outside that stated "this store is no longer a part of the Chuck E Cheese system please visit one of our other Salt Lake City area locations" - but when they left I removed it-wish I would have kept it. This happened throughout the nation and many franchisees just closed then later, as we are seeing all over, within months opened corporate stores in their place. I think this was the worst, as back in the 80's when they almost went bust (SBPT) it was the franchisees that kept the company afloat. good appreciation, huh?"

There you have it!

[pizzacam]

Damn just muscled them out...sounds really nice! Nothing like the way the company is today... :rolleyes: :laugh:

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

HOLY crap !

I knew the Company "plays dirty" sometimes, but i never knew they would stoop THAT low as to actually put signs up encouraging Guests to visit "other CEC's in the area" instead!

Franchises ROCK!! They have the coolest stuff and they offer a different approach that is refreshing. Anyone here would agree that the cool things about visiting other locations is seeing different things, and sadly most CEC's of today are absolute carbon copies of each other. The few rare gems still left out there are so important....why can't the Company see that?

Well i suppose it has to do with the all-mighty 'brand awareness". I could see them wanting to have all of the stores called "CEC's" to look at least similar. They have reason too have concern if the store looks so different that Guests might be confused. However, to strongarm a franchise and take steps to purposely force it to close is just nasty.

For those few franchises left, i salute you! Don't give into the guff! Make a stand!!!!

[bzier]

Yep...corporate was pretty cruel. It's sad that they would do this...especially since the Franchises are almost ALWAYS better than the corporate stores. I hate the whole 'carbon copy' thing too. When we moved into our new store, it finally hit me that we were just like any other 'current' store. Nothing to make us special or unique anymore. And our store is smaller, our skytubes are smaller, we have less seats, less games, and a crappier show. Aside from being 'new', I see nothing that makes us better than our old store.

It's too bad that corporate doesn't handle things differently.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Tell it like it is, Bro!!

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

It just now dawned on me that this location was in the same town as where it's creator was born! Yep, Odgen, Utah is Nolan's birthplace. Well i'll be dog-goned.....

Maybe this has something to do with why it was kept so original ....as i living tribute of sorts? Pretty cool when you look at it that way...and all the more insulting when i now hear what happened in it's last few months thanks to Corp...:bbangry:

[dheineCECfan]

I didn't know Nolan Bushnell was born in Utah, I thought he was born in the San Francisco/San Jose/Northern California area.

[harveytwoface999]

I didn't know Nolan Bushnell was born in Utah, I thought he was born in the San Francisco/San Jose/Northern California area.

Wasn't that where the first PTT opened?

[dheineCECfan]

Yes, harveytwoface!

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Nolan was born in Odgen, Utah...yes....February 5th i beleive if i am remembering my sources right.

The first PTT did indeed open in San Jose in 77', as Nolan was living in the area at the time working at Atari.

He moved to Northern CA from Utah in the early 70's after getting out of school to begin his engineering/electronics career. A few years later he created his famous video game "Pong" and the rest ,as they say, is history!

:)

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

:cecwink:

Just bumping this up as it is a interesting thread.....well worth reading over again!

[Partyhog]

Do we know anymore about Trey and his store yet? I was facinted that corp did this and I just want to know more about it.

[dheineCECfan]

Do we know anymore about Trey and his store yet? I was facinted that corp did this and I just want to know more about it.

Well, someone bumped this post recently.

[captslappy]

I don't think there is a lot more to say. You had a Franchise that had stayed as a PTT and not updated to current standards and existed that way into the early 90s and finally got strong armed into compliance by corporate. It was too much money to upgrade so they lost the right to be affiliated with the company since they couldn't bring the restaurant up to current spec. CEC owns the rights to the characters and brand name and has every right to do that. As disappointing as it was, CEC is protecting its brand and setting its standard. Anytime you franchise with a brand name company there are certain things you agree to and you must maintain the standard set by the corporate headquarters. From a fan stand point it is certainly disappointing that a unique store was lost but I can also understand it from the corporation's standpoint and the need to protect their brand name. People often forget that CEC Entertainment is a for profit business that is publicly traded and accountable to its stock holders. The reality is the business side of things comes before the fun and magic.

[dheineCECfan]

I don't think there is a lot more to say. You had a Franchise that had stayed as a PTT and not updated to current standards and existed that way into the early 90s and finally got strong armed into compliance by corporate. It was too much money to upgrade so they lost the right to be affiliated with the company since they couldn't bring the restaurant up to current spec. CEC owns the rights to the characters and brand name and has every right to do that. As disappointing as it was, CEC is protecting its brand and setting its standard. Anytime you franchise with a brand name company there are certain things you agree to and you must maintain the standard set by the corporate headquarters. From a fan stand point it is certainly disappointing that a unique store was lost but I can also understand it from the corporation's standpoint and the need to protect their brand name. People often forget that CEC Entertainment is a for profit business that is publicly traded and accountable to its stock holders. The reality is the business side of things comes before the fun and magic.

Yes, and if someone had 1980's-1991 CECPTT Odgen, Utah video footage to surface somewhere...

[CEC3066]

considering a franchise in Lake Forest,CA was allowed to keep their Balcony show up until closing i think it was kinda rude what they did to Trey

[captslappy]

It isn't really so much a matter of rude as non-compliance. The company has a right to enforce standards on franchizes and this store was out of compliance on many levels. it is unfortunate and this was a very unique location but I do see both sides of it. It's too bad the company isn't open to having a "retro" offshoot of itself. TJ Hartford's failed miserably and that shows they have dabbled in other brand ventures. It would be cool to see a store like this along side the modern CECs. Now, I'm not saying go back to other guests, but have the old school look with a balcony or portrait type show and maybe have King or Beagles in a caberet and do what they attempted with Zapp's: Gear it to the older crowd that CEC no longer caters to. That would be really cool but I don't know how the public would receive it.

[dheineCECfan]

Well, moving off topic to a CECPTT shelf/portrait show in Odgen, Utah up until the 1990's and the CEC Lake Forest,CA balcony show up until 2001: Does the Rockford, IL. CEC the only CEC left still with a 1988-early 1990's house facade backdrop?

[MMBBfan327]

Gear it to the older crowd that CEC no longer caters to. That would be really cool but I don't know how the public would receive it.

I would see this a lot like how McDonald's has 'retro' locations in a lot of places, with jukeboxes, neon signs, and decor catered to the 50s. These locations are a hit, cater to a wider audience, and still make profit off the same merchandise as other McDonald's.

[captslappy]

I agree and I think a lot of good would come if CEC would broaden its horizons. However, ultimately, it is the corporate office's call as to how the rest of the world is allowed to use their trademarks publicly and what standards individual stores must conform to. Instead of doing a concept like TJ's that failed miserably, I think doing a retro Pizza Time Theatre concept like what they did for Zapp's would be worth a look. They could compete in another market and target a different audience totally.

[dheineCECfan]

I agree and I think a lot of good would come if CEC would broaden its horizons. However, ultimately, it is the corporate office's call as to how the rest of the world is allowed to use their trademarks publicly and what standards individual stores must conform to. Instead of doing a concept like TJ's that failed miserably, I think doing a retro Pizza Time Theatre concept like what they did for Zapp's would be worth a look. They could compete in another market and target a different audience totally.

Why not a CEC museum if CEC HQ in Irving still has in storage the CEC/PTT retro pics that used to hang on the CEC HQ walls when I visited the place in May 2001?

[MMBBfan327]

They could compete in another market and target a different audience totally.

They minus well; a majority of the competition (D&B, Stonefire Pizza) already cater to this crowd.

[dheineCECfan]

They minus well; a majority of the competition (D&B, Stonefire Pizza) already cater to this crowd.

What's Stonefire Pizza?