Entertainment company Chuck E. Cheese plans to open another location in North Texas.
According to a state filing, the Irving-based franchise concept is scheduled to start construction in April of a 10,388-square-foot building on North Central Expressway in Allen. The estimated cost of construction is just over $2.4 million, and the project has an anticipated delivery date of October 26.
Founded in California in the late 1970s by one of the men behind Atari, Nolan Bushnell, Chuck E. Cheese operates 62 stores in Texas, including 15 in Dallas-Fort Worth. When the first store opened under the name “Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre,” it was the first such concept that offered animatronic entertainment, an indoor arcade, and pizza.
In January, People Magazine reported that production company Magical Elves is developing a game show inspired by Chuck E. Cheese. According to the publication, adults — or “big kids” — will compete with large arcade games, and the pair who wins the most tickets will trade them for prizes, similar to how it is done at the pizza restaurant.
Magic Elves also produces Top Chef on Bravo.
Chuck E. Cheese owns nearly 600 locations and more than 120 Peter Piper Pizza stores across the world. In December 2020, the company announced it had emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with about $705 million in debt removed from its balance sheet. As a result, the company reported more than $100 million of liquidity to support its operations and growth plans.
Prizm Architects is listed as the design firm on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing.