Nostalgic arcade restaurant chain unveils new spinoff concept | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Nothing is more nostalgic than arcades, with neon lights, endless games, and a little competition among friends.

Winning tickets was addictive, and collecting as many as possible to redeem them for prizes made us want to stay all day, if our parents — or our allowances — allowed it.

They were like the kid-friendly version of casinos, which might have been early signs that a slight gambling addiction was on the way for some.

Nonetheless, they formed a memorable part of our childhoods.

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However, like many other businesses, an arcade-based restaurant chain wasn’t expecting the Covid pandemic to force temporary shutdowns of all its locations, leaving it with limited ways to continue making enough money to pay its bills.

The financial strains were too much for the business to handle, leading it to make a devastating decision that all companies fear.

Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company, CEC Entertainment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2020 and emerged from it six months later under new ownership.

At the beginning of this year, Chuck E. Cheese revealed a $350 million investment strategy to revive its brand by updating 500 units, and now, it’s making another major improvement.

Chuck E. Cheese launches a new spinoff concept.

Image source&colon; Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Chuck E. Cheese unveils a new spinoff concept

Chuck E. Cheese has launched Chuck’s Arcade, a new spinoff concept for adults that puts a modern spin on classic arcade games while maintaining its signature brand.

Since all ages are welcome, this is a place for adults who grew up going to Chuck E. Cheese to relive their childhood memories while sharing them with their kids or younger siblings.

“Chuck’s Arcade is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences,” said Chuck E. Cheese CEO David McKillips in the press release.

The new Chuck’s Arcade locations are now open nationwide across major malls in St. Petersburg, Florida; Trumbull, Connecticut; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Victor, New York; Buford, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire; and St. Louis.

Chuck E. Cheese aims for a massive expansion of the new concept

These first few locations are only the beginning, as Chuck E. Cheese is planning a massive expansion, with 10 more upcoming locations across eight states.

The arcade restaurant chain also plans to open a one-of-a-kind Chuck’s Arcade and Pizzeria in Kansas City, Missouri, with a full food menu and a sit-down restaurant.

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Unlike most of its original Chuck E. Cheese locations, all Chuck’s Arcades are unique and differ from one another, while maintaining the same nostalgic feeling.

Although Chuck’s Arcade has a more modern twist, animatronics will still be featured, and retro-themed merchandise will be available for purchase at select locations.