Millions of Millennial and Gen X hearts are breaking across the country as entertainment arcade Chuck E. Cheese announced it is removing the animatronic band from all locations except for one. For those of us who grew up attending birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese, it's the end of an era.
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Here's what they're saying
"As an important part of the legacy of the brand, we know that the animatronic band holds a special place for many fans in their childhood memories," David McKillips, president and CEO of CEC Entertainment, said in a press release.
"We want our fans to know that the decision to keep the band here is meant as a gesture of love and gratitude as our legacy continues to evolve in new ways."
It truly is the end of an era
If you were a kid in the 1980s and ’90s, there's a good chance that you went to at least one birthday party at a Chuck E. Cheese or ShowBiz Pizza, as it was also known. Munch's Make Believe band, consisting of Chuck E. Cheese, Mr. Munch, Helen Henny, Jasper T. Jowls. and Pasqually, is part of many of our childhood memories.
This isn't the end of Chuck E. Cheese
While they may be removing the animatronic band and breaking hearts, this isn't the end of the chain. There are plans to upgrade the Chuck E. Cheese experience, including interactive dance floors, new technology, more kid-focused arcade games. Some locations will get new trampoline zones.
Chuck E. Cheese is fighting to stay relevant
The last few years have been tough on the nearly 50-year old brand. It was hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the company to file for bankruptcy in 2020. At the peak of the pandemic, Chuck E. Cheese lost about 80% of its average revenue. And it was already on shaky ground before the pandemic, having nearly $1 billion in debt.
It has regained some of their footing, giving away 500 free birthday parties to kids.
