Lake Forest, CA (24416 Muirlands Blvd)



24416 Muirlands Blvd was a franchise owned Pizza Time Theatre that opened in June 1981 with a Shelf Stage and closed in Fall 2001.

This location became widely known as "The final Pizza Time Theatre" for having various elements from the 1980s still present inside of the restaurant, most notably the Shelf Stage.

Stages
During the 1980s SPT remodel process, the characters were moved closer together and given custom made staging. This created a one of a kind hybrid between the existing shelf show and C-Stage. Shortly after the changeover, the final cosmetic change documented would be the changing of Helen's red sequin dress to the black and purple standard dress. This store would also end up being the final occasion a Bandstand vest or Broadway Helen cosmetics to be utilized in store.

During the 1990s the showroom became increasingly more decorated, receiving large screen CRTs, custom made lighting props, merry go-round horse statues on display, and colorful flags over the retired waving flag's mechanisms.

Lounge Acts
During it's time as a Pizza Time Theatre, Lake Forest would have three lounge acts in rotation, The King, The Beagles, and The Beach Bowsers. All three lounge acts would retire once the location remodeled.

History
The Lake Forest Pizza Time Theatre in June 1981 under the FEC, Inc. franchise.

The location would remodel only once during the 1986 SPT Remodel Program, when both PTT and SPP became one company and would standardize every location under one design. These changes included wood paneling on the walls, new signage, and blue and white striped awnings above the counters and salad bar. Lake Forest would keep the general layout of the location until its closure. The walls still had advertisements relating to Pizza Time Theatre along with original artwork dating back to opening day, including posters and art of the characters, also including a store-made drawing of Chuck E. Cheese and his friends celebrating a party, which would remain in the showroom until closure. This art notably featured Madame Oink holding balloons.

In 1989, this location would keep the shelf but have a custom stage that still looked like a C Stage, but still high

Although the location hadn't received major updates, the franchise was still successful, having received multiple awards for their sales growth. This may also be a direct cause for a local Toyota dealership to sponsor the location.

The only updated aspect of the store would be the games package, appearing to have never received Phase I, but a condensed Phase II package. Lake Forest would only receive new games later on as opposed to new attractions; most likely due to the locations size. This remodel would also change the exterior sign at an unknown date.

2001 Footage
In 2001 Robert Gotcher and Jeremy Blaido visited this location and interviewed two cast members of the location. The video would be featured in a 25th anniversary video created for the CEC Support Center in Irving, TX.

Closure
In 2001 the location would permanently close and relocate to Laguna Hills, CA. However unlike most relocations, the franchisee chose to not reuse any previous assets from the original location. The building has since been remodeled and now has little to no remnants of Chuck E. Cheese's existence besides of the presence of the former "Now Appearing" boxes outside, and the repainted doors intact.

The location's building would be repurposed into several different restaurants over time, the most recent being Bombay Grill, Bar and Banquet.

Arcade Machines
Identified 2001 Machines.


 * Chuck E. Phone
 * Chuck E. Cheese's Trolly
 * Chuck E's Duckies
 * Chuck E. Cheese's Circus
 * Cyclone
 * Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga - Class Of 1981
 * Buzzy Buzzy Bee
 * Ms. Pac Man/Galaga 20th Anniversary
 * Wheel of Fortune
 * Buzzy Buzzy Bee