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Chuck E. Cheese's (formerly Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza) is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E. Cheese's is the main brand of CEC Entertainment, Inc., (NYSE: CEC) with its headquarters based in Irving, Texas.
The concept is a sit-down pizza restaurant, complemented by arcade games, amusement rides, an animatronic show, and other diversions, such as climbing equipment, tubes, and slides ? all mainly directed at younger children.[3] The brand is represented by Chuck E. Cheese, an anthropomorphic mouse.[3][6]
The company was founded as Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre by Nolan Bushnell in 1977, officially being labeled as the first family restaurant to integrate food, animated entertainment, and an indoor arcade.[3] Pizza Time Theatre and Showbiz Pizza Place merged in 1984, bringing both concepts under the wing of Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc..[2] In 1991/2, Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc. unified the two brands into Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza.[5] In 1994, Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza underwent redesigning, changing to Chuck E. Cheese's by 1995.[2] In 1998, Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc. is renamed to CEC Entertainment, Inc., removing any mention of Showbiz Pizza Place, Inc., the company that CEC Entertainment, Inc. was based from.[1][2] In 2007, the company celebrated its 30th anniversary,[2] and as of May 2009, it operates 542 restaurants.
