Billings, MT (100 24th St)

Street view of the store's Exterior back in August 2021 (PC: Google Maps)

100 24th Street West, Store #2082/210 was a Showbiz Pizza Place that opened on August 6, 1984, with a Rock-Afire Explosion, which is still open to this day going through the 2.0 Remodel. They had the Second to Last 3-Stage

Billings received CU in 1991 or 1992 and was acquired by CEC Entertainment, LLC in October 2022, along with Fargo, North Dakota (1202 Nodak Dr). Billings is so far the only CEC ever in the state of Montana.

History

Billings opened its doors on August 6th, 1984, with a Rock-afire Explosion show. It was originally a franchise-owned store. Like many other Showbiz locations, it had a typical SPP layout seen in many other stores across the United States and would eventually receive the 1988 remodel years after it would open. Although very little documentation exists back in the ShowBiz days, it can be determined that Billings was one of several locations to receive an Uncle Klunk show package (and a Santa Claus retrofit package as well) sometime after opening. Like many ShowBiz locations in the late 1980s, Billings received the Showbiz Pizza Campground upgrade.

In around 1991/1992, Billings received Concept Unification which converted the show to Munch's Make-Believe Band. In around the Mid-Late 1990's, Billings received either Phase 1 or Phase 2 remodel. Billings, along with Fargo, North Dakota, was one of the first locations to switch to Pepsi in the 2000s. Billings still remained in their 1990s remodel until sometime in 2015 when they received the major 2005 Remodel which involved removing the Showroom Walls, balcony Seating, and redoing the entire left-hand side of the store, only leaving the Pickup Window. They would also be the last CEC store to ever receive the 2005 remodel, as the long time remodeling initiative ended the same year, after 10 years. Both Billings and Fargo were bought out by Corporate in October 2022, with Fargo getting the 2.0 remodel two months after being acquired by corporate. Billings did not get the new remodel after Fargo and they had their 2005 remodel Until June 24th 2024.

Stages

Billings opened with the Rock afire Explosion in 1984. Unfortunately, there are hardly any photos or videos to exist of Billings with the Rock afire, or as a Showbiz in general. But there is a photo of its original exterior.

In the 1990s, Billings received Concept Unification, converting the Rock afire into Munch’s Make-Believe Band.

Until June 23rd 2024, Billings had their 3-Stage, with it being the second to last 3-Stage in the world. Billings had the second to last Building animatronics and Moon animatronics.

Stage	Installed	Removed	Notes
Rock-Afire Explosion	August 1984	1991 or 1992	Only ShowBiz in Montana.
3-Stage	1991 or 1992	June 24th 2024	Second to last Concept Unification Stage.

Animatronics

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

Gallery

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  A photo of the store as an SPP (PC: Bob Zellar, Billings Gazette File Photo). This photo shows Billy Bob greeting some children in the showroom.

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  A photo of the store's exterior before they remodeled in 2015 (PC: Unknown)

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  A photo of the store's 3-Stage on July 31st, 2022, 1-2 months before the store was acquired by Corporate (PC: Rachelle Sutton-Corbett).

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  Stage Right on March 10, 2024. (PC: Con Mag)

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  Center Stage on March 10, 2024. (PC: Con Mag)

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  Another shot of Center Stage on March 10, 2024. (PC: Con Mag)

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  Stage Left on March 10, 2024. (PC: Con Mag)

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  Chuck E. Cheese animatronic on March 10, 2024. (PC: Con Mag)

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  Jasper T. Jowls animatronic on February 11, 2024. (PC: Con Mag)

Videos

Link	Description	Credit	Publishing Date
https://youtu.be/eWvu00Ndmbg?si=ag6ejppD0ZF5p_h7	Store visit of the Billings store, along with footage of their 3-Stage.	Sets, Streets & Eats	March 10, 2024

Trivia

• Before Corporate renumbered Franchised locations to four digit store numbers in 2010, Billings' current store number (210) was used for the Wilmington, NC (4389 Oleander Dr) location; In 2010, it was renumbered to Store #2070 until closure. It's unknown if Billings had a three digit store number before 2010.