Chuck E. Cheese

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Also known as Showbiz Pizza, this restaurant was probably more known for their animatronic band and being a birthday party venue for kids.

History

  • July 1982: ShowBiz Pizza Place, a Brock Hotel Corp. franchise, opens at 438 Grand Canyon Dr., a block east of West Towne Mall, with Billy Bob and the Rock-Afire Explosion animatronic band, video games and skee ball. Genie Campbell of the State Journal: "the pizza is not enough to keep people coming back, but the entertainment is"[1].
  • August 1985: "Pizza Plus" — a large deluxe cheese pizza, a pitcher of soft drink and double game and ride tokens for $9.95; "World's greatest robotic entertainment"[2]. The fall dining guide: "Family entertainment center serving mostly pizza and fun"[3].
  • May 1986: licensed to Showbiz of Madison, Inc., with Gustavs M. Martinsons as agent[4].
  • May 1989: Muriel LaRose reviews it for the Capital Times — a thick, chewy crust and "a great place for birthday parties"[5].
  • December 1989: Margaret Collins reviews it ("Adults mustn't forget, Showbiz Pizza is for the kids"). The manager, Gary Fay, estimates it serves about half a million people a year and about 5,000 a day between Christmas and New Year's. She found the pizza "far from the best pizza in town" and the salad bar "the best find at Showbiz"[6].
  • May 1990: the city's license renewals carry Showbiz of Madison Inc., agent Gustavus M. Martinsons, doing business as Showbiz Pizza Place at 438 Grand Canyon Dr.[7]
  • May 1995: Showbiz of Madison Inc., now with Gary Fay as agent, holds the license as Chuck E. Cheese's[8]; that September it advertised for managers with "Pizza, not pressure"[9].
  • May 1996: the license passes to Showbiz Pizza Time Inc., agent Sharon Fitch, still as Chuck E. Cheese's[10].
  • July 16, 1996: staff locking up for the night find a 2-year-old left behind by a party of 15; the manager waits an hour before calling police, and the boy is back with his mother the next morning. The Capital Times put the story on page 1 and called the restaurant one "known for catering to children"[11].
  • May 1999: the same address is licensed to CEC Entertainment Inc., agent Anthony White, as Chuck E. Cheese's[12]. Showbiz was still on the license list in May 1991[13].

Locations

  • 438 Grand Canyon Dr. (ShowBiz Pizza Place from July 1982[1] and in 1990[7]; Chuck E. Cheese's by 1995[8]).

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Campbell, G. (1982, October 24). "Entertainment sells ShowBiz Pizza." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 90. Newspapers.com image 402578524.
  2. ↑ (1985, August 16). ShowBiz Pizza Place 'Pizza Plus' ad: large deluxe cheese pizza, pitcher of soft drink and double game and ride tokens $9.95 during August; 'World's greatest robotic entertainment'. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 34. Newspapers.com image 401364529.
  3. ↑ (1985, October 6). "Madison Area Dining Guide, Fall 1985." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 141. Newspapers.com image 401397522.
  4. ↑ (1986, May 1). "Legal notice: applications for the sale of beer and/or liquor (City of Madison, 1986–87)." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 30. Newspapers.com images 402295753, 402295768.
  5. ↑ Prager, K. and LaRose, M. (1989, May 6). Dining Out (Prager) on Paisan's: owners Roy McCormick and wife Rose Troia made 'Madison's first thin crust pizza' c. 1951 from Troia-homestead recipes; three moves and a shift to a team of four owners including McCormick's s…. The Capital Times. p. 10. Newspapers.com image 522566896.
  6. ↑ Collins, M. (1989, December 23). "Adults mustn't forget, Showbiz Pizza is for the kids." The Capital Times. p. 30. Newspapers.com image 520002101.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 (1990, May 15). City of Madison 1990–91 Class B liquor license renewals (reprinted May 18 p24 and May 19 p6): Pizza Pit, 78 East Towne Mall (Kerry P. Cook, agent Terry K. Voice); Edwardo's Natural Pizza Restaurant 333 N. Bassett St. (Erl …. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22. Newspapers.com images 405195087, 405339396, 405340124.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 (1995, May 25). City of Madison license list, May 1995. The Capital Times. p. 20. Newspapers.com image 521522538. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
  9. ↑ (1995, September 17). Pizza Pit: 'PIZZA COOKS — Production of Madison's most award winning pizza. Complete paid training… ORDER TAKERS… Apply at the nearest PIZZA PIT location in Madison and surrounding Dane County'; Pizza Extreme managers $22–…. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 89. Newspapers.com image 404426310.
  10. ↑ (1996, May 27). City of Madison license list, May 1996. The Capital Times. p. 5. Newspapers.com image 522631770. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
  11. ↑ (1996, July 17). "Toddler left behind at Chuck E. Cheese." The Capital Times. p. 1. Newspapers.com image 522238392.
  12. ↑ (1999, May 26). City of Madison 1999–2000 alcohol license renewals, part 2: Liquor & Beer Class B (#159–458): But-Lo LLC dba Sal's Pizzeria 313 State St.; First Madco Inc. dba Rocky Rococo 7952 Tree Ln.; Mineral Spirits Inc. dba Edwardo's N…. The Capital Times. p. 7. Newspapers.com images 522006391, 522007482.
  13. ↑ (1991, May 20). City of Madison 1991–92 Class B liquor license renewals (reprinted May 21 p7 and May 22 p27): Pizza Hut at 3059 E. Washington Ave., 2649 East Springs Dr., 4709 Verona Rd., 7440 Mineral Point Rd. and 662 State St.; Pizzeria …. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 6. Newspapers.com images 404281521, 404281684, 404282071.
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