Pizza purveyor Chuck E. Cheese is retiring Munch's Make Believe Band, the stiff animatronic ensemble that was once one of the chain's highlights.
The company announced over the weekend that it was discontinuing its fleet of robots, which CEO David McKillips described to the New York Times as the brand's “most aggressive transformation” to date.
After Chuck E. Cheese and his bandmates conclude their performance, McKillips said each venue will be equipped with giant television screens, digital dance floors and trampoline gyms for the little visitors. Ta.
“Kids are consuming entertainment in a different way than they were 10, 20 years ago. Kids of all ages are really enjoying entertainment on screens,” McKillips told the Times.
A favorite for children's birthday parties and other school-age celebrations, Chuck E. Cheese was founded in May 1977 in San Jose, California.
It was originally planned to be called Coyote's Pizza, but the restaurant was forced to change direction after the owner accidentally bought a mouse costume for the robot mascot. The mascot was later known as Charles Entertainment Cheese, or “Chuck E.” to his friends.
Inspired by the high-tech robots of Disneyland's Tiki Room, Chuck E. and his bandmates Helen Henney, Jasper T. Joles, Pasqually, and Mr. Munch feature blank eyes, jerky movements, and creepy interpretations of popular songs. It was known for.
Still, after years of thriving as an inexpensive option for children's parties, Chuck E. Cheese has been forced to close dozens of stores due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and the company By summer, it was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Nearly all of Chuck E. Cheese's 400 stores plan to remove robots by the end of the year, but restaurants in Los Angeles and Nanuet, New York, will continue to use them.
The company hasn't said what it will do with the remaining few hundred robot animals.
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