Altoona, PA (3415 Pleasant Valley Blvd)

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Altoona location exterior photo taken on July 17, 2022


Altoona, PA (3415 Pleasant Valley Blvd) Store #3165/449 was a Showbiz Pizza Place that opened on November 23, 1983, with a Rock-Afire Explosion, and is still open to this day.

Altoona is also the second last store to have "Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza" on the building, although it is on a small sign under the main façade of the building.

Stages

Stage Installed Removed Notes
Rock-Afire Explosion November 1983 1991/1992 5th SPP to open in Pennsylvania.
3-Stage 1991/1992 May 13, 2024 Last 3-Stage in Pennsylvania and the Northeast United States. Stage was in decent condition.
Dance Floor + Video Wall May 2024 Still in use

History

1982-2000

On January 6, 1983, Tom Gibb of Altoona Mirror confirmed that in late September 1982, Michael Phenix, president of Family Restaurant Concepts Inc, met the Showbiz Pizza press in Altoona and signed a lease with Pleasant Valley Shopping Center owner, PVSC Company. The location was originally going to open in February 1983, but never occurred due to the lease not being signed. At the time, there was an 80% chance of Showbiz Pizza being in the location, and Altoona Enterprises and the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority agreed Family Restaurant Concepts Inc. to issue $1 million in tax-free, low-interest bonds to finance the project.[1]

On March 2, 1983, it was confirmed that Family Restaurant Concepts Inc. proposed to build Showbiz Pizza Place in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center.[2] The original opening date was scheduled to be in October 1983, but was delayed by a month for unknown reasons.[3] The location opened on November 23, 1983, as the fifth Showbiz Pizza Place in Pennsylvania.[4] The location performed really well, becoming a popular location with kids, as well as teenagers and adults.[5][6] Billy Bob also made outside appearances in the Altoona area, such as the Logan Valley Mall Christmas Parade in 1985.[7]

Evidence shown that in July 1987, due to Showbiz Pizza's merge with Chuck E. Cheese's, the location would be renamed to Chuck E. Cheese's.[8] Around between September and October 1st, 1987, Showbiz Pizza Place was officially renamed to Chuck E. Cheese's,[9][10] though it presumably kept the Showbiz Pizza Place sign until the early '90s. It received Concept Unification sometime in 1991 (date unknown), replacing Rock-Afire Explosion with Munch's Make Believe Band. The SPT 1992 Remodel Program happened sometime after Concept Unification. Circa. 1996, the Scott Wilson latex mask of the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic was replaced by the Duncan Brannan latex mask. Sometime in the 2000s (officially unknown year: 2000), it became the first animatronic in which its latex mask was replaced by a plastic mask.

2001-2011

A photo of the Altoona, PA, location in 2003.

The location's entertainment package was updated to Phase 3 in the early 2000s (officially unknown year: 2001), which included the installations of the Toddler Zone and the Ticket Muncher. Minor changes occurred after the upgrade. In circa. 2002, Mr. Munch's latex mask was replaced by a plastic mask. Between July 22, 2003, and December 11, 2006, the "Pizza" logo besides the "Chuck E. Cheese's" logo was removed at the exterior side of the building. Circa. late 2000s, the circular owning above the entrance door was replaced by a triangular owning. In 2010, the Ticket Blaster was installed into the location.

2011-present

In mid-2011, the location went through a 2010 "Cool Chuck" Major Remodel Initiative, which included replacing older decor with newer decor, removing the Toddler Zone, applying purple paint to walls, and remodeling the exterior. The grand opening after the remodel initially included a white sign of the Open sign with the Avenger Chuck logo beside it. It was eventually replaced by the then-official Avenger Chuck logo. Sometime in 2011, Pasqually's latex mask was replaced by a plastic mask. Between 2011 and 2012, Helen and Jasper's latex masks were replaced by their plastic masks. Prior to the changes, it was the last worldwide location to keep Helen's latex mask and the last US location to keep Jasper and Pasqually's latex masks. Munch Jr., Moon, and Building animatronics were later removed sometime after 2011.

During COVID-19, the huge sidewalk at the exterior of the building was removed for parking. Sometime in 2023, the stage was put into random movements due to CEC Entertainment not programming any new songs (though existing songs are still performed). The animatronics were turned back on in early 2024. The 2.0 remodel started on May 12, 2024, and a day later, the 3 Stage was removed.

Gallery

  • The store's exterior as a Showbiz Pizza Place.

    The store's exterior as a Showbiz Pizza Place.

  • Part of the store's exterior before its remodel.

    Part of the store's exterior before its remodel.

  • Wide shot of the 3-Stage.

    Wide shot of the 3-Stage.

  • The Creative Engineering label on the back of munches keyboard. (1-1983)

    The Creative Engineering label on the back of munches keyboard. (1-1983)

  • Chuck E Cheese's Pizza sign.

    Chuck E Cheese's Pizza sign.

  • Close-up of Chuck E.'s stage.

    Close-up of Chuck E.'s stage.

  • Close-up of Pasqually

    Close-up of Pasqually

  • Helen and Jasper with latex masks

    Helen and Jasper with latex masks

  • The store's exterior (left) in 2006.

    The store's exterior (left) in 2006.

  • Chuck E Cheese's 1998 sign in 2009.

    Chuck E Cheese's 1998 sign in 2009.

Animatronics

Animatronic Serial Number Whereabouts
Chuck E. Cheese / Rolfe DeWolfe 1-83 1-2 Unknown
Pasqually / Dook Larue 1-83 2-2 Unknown
Mr. Munch / Fatz Geronimo 1-83 3-2 Unknown
Jasper T. Jowls / Beach Bear 1-83 4-2 Unknown
Helen Henny / Mitzi Mozzarella 1-83 5-2 Unknown
Billy Bob 1-83 6-2 Unknown
Pizzacam / Looney Bird 1-83 7-2 Unknown
Munch Jr. / Choo Choo 1-83 8-2 Unknown
Building / Sun 1-83 10-2 Unknown
Moon 1-83 11-2 Unknown
Antioch N/A Unknown
Wink N/A Unknown

Videos

Link Description Date Filmed Date Published
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUVJAHJuaJQ A video titled "Chuck E Cheese Band - Golgotha (the characters shown with latex masks)" 2011 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thG1UCs1zNc A tour of the store a month prior to remodeling. April 2024 Apr 28, 2024

References

  1. ↑ Gibbs, Tom. (January 6, 1983). "Financing jeopardizes ShowBiz pizza project". Altoona Mirror
  2. ↑ (March 2, 1983). "Family Restaurant Concepts proposal to build Showbiz Pizza Place"
  3. ↑ (1983). "Altoona, PA Location's original planned opening date"
  4. ↑ (November 23, 1983). "GRAND OPENING: Showbiz Pizza Place in Altoona, PA at the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center Advertisement".
  5. ↑ " Most Popular Location with Kids in Altoona, PA"
  6. ↑ "Owner of Showbiz Pizza Place in Altoona, PA, says that the location was doing well"
  7. ↑ (1985). "Logan Valley Mall Christmas Parade of 1985".
  8. ↑ (July 1987). "Hey Kids! Same Fun Place, New Name, Chuck E. Cheese Will Soon Replace Showbiz Pizza Place in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center".
  9. ↑ (September 1987). "Altoona Area Merchants: Chuck E. Cheese's".
  10. ↑ (October 1, 1987) "NOW OPEN: You Don't Need A Big Reason To Have Fun At Showbiz And Chuck E. Cheese's".
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