Akron, OH (2779 West Market St)
2779 West Market St, Store #553 is a Chuck E. Cheese's location in Akron, Ohio that opened on October 25th, 1993, with a 1 Stage. Like North Olmsted and Mentor, it should not be confused with Akron, OH (1984 Brittain Rd), which was a Pizza Time Theatre or Akron, OH (2511 Romig Rd), which was a Showbiz Pizza Place.
History
Pre-CEC
Akron's A&P would open its doors on January 23rd, 1963, and closed on December 23rd, 1972. Then in Spring 1973, it became Craft-N-Flower World, which would remain open until it's closure sometime in fall 1992. Construction of the building as CEC would start shortly after.
CEC
Akron opened as CEC on October 25 1993 with a 1-Stage. The store kept two Pizza Time Theatre posters, BatMunch and Close Encounters of the Bird Kind, and it would become the final store with PTT posters inside. The store remained relatively unchanged until May 2022, when it would get 2.0. The stage was removed on July 27, 2022 and replaced with the Dance Floor. The store's Grand Reopening took place on October 5th, 2022.
Stage History
| Stage | Installed | Removed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Stage | October 1993 | July 27, 2022 |
| Dance Floor | July 2022 | In Use |
Animatronics
| Animatronic | Manufactured | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Chuck E. Cheese (Cyberamic) | 1993 | Removed July 2022, Parts Saved |
| Helen Henny (Cyberamic) | 1993 | Removed July 2022, Privately Owned |
| Mr Munch (Cyberamic) | 1993 | Removed July 2022, Privately Owned |
| Jasper T. Jowls (Cyberamic) | 1993 | Removed July 2022, Privately Owned |
| Pasqually (Cyberamic) | 1993 | Removed July 2022, Unknown |
| Wink (Cyberamic) | 1993 | Removed July 2022, Unknown |
Gallery
-
Akron's Exterior before the logo was changed to the one they had before 2.0 (2000's) (PC: Zomato)
-
Akron's 1-Stage during Birthday Star Spectacular (12/3/2019) (PC: Tanise Scott)
-
Akron's Exterior before the 2.0 Remodel (6/8/2022) (PC: RetailRyan on Flickr)
-
Akron's Dance Floor + Video Wall (1-17-2023) (PC: Noelle Pratt)
Videos
| Link | Description | Year |
|---|---|---|
| https://youtu.be/XK8Az2zKNsw?t=2844 | Akron's location installation mentioned in a CEC TV '93 ID spot | September 14, 1993 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXQU0YjSF7o | Footage of the 1-Stage performing Chuck E's Variety Show & Chuck E. March | 2000 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3T5h6_QS2I | The 1-Stage performing Out of This World | 2020 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7xI2GqBFbc | Store Tour 2022, just months before 2.0 | 2022 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A921c52c1HU | Store Tour during the 2.0 Remodel | 2022 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_Gqkr52wig | Showroom Tour, 2022 | 2022 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR3pyTS_EqU | Tour of the 2.0 Remodel | 2022 |