Florence, KY (7635 Mall Rd)

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Revision as of 22:04, 1 October 2023 by 2600:4040:5a0e:d900:bc79:7d2c:188e:b2db (talk) (Added a video of the store from 2 weeks ago and capitalized the "L" in Link.)


Image of Florence


7635 Mall Rd, Store #212/112 opened as a Pizza Time Theater location, and has operated from April 19, 1982, to the present as a Chuck E. Cheese.

The Florence, KY Pizza Time Theatre opened as a franchise under the Bernstein Restaurant Group until 2008 and has since undergone several remodels to eventually become a Chuck E. Cheese.

Stages

Florence opened as Kentucky's first Pizza Time Theatre on April 19th, 1982, with a Balcony Stage which was retained until the late 1980s before it was replaced with Chuck E.'s House; the stage remained in the store until 2003. During this timeframe between installation and the removal of Chuck E.'s House, the animatronic Helen was modified in Summer 2000 and received a complete makeover to fit standard Helen look at the time.

Hampton, VA's stage. which was owned by the same franchisee, relocated in May of 2002. Their 2-Stage was installed at Florence that same year. The Wink and curtains were not installed

The store received the "Cool Chuck" cosmetics around 2007, and removed the TV shell. In the fall of 2010, they received the 2005 Update of the 2003 "Cool Chuck" Reconfiguration / Major Remodel Initiative. The stage was relocated from the right wall to the store's back wall; two buildings were moved and the stage itself was rendered wider. The curtains were finally installed, although had ceased their function by this time.

In late 2017, the stage's old lightbulbs were replaced with LEDs, the TV was replaced with a flatscreen, and a small lightbox with a blue LED strip in it was added underneath aforementioned TV. The stage remained in this configuration until March 31, 2022, when the stage was removed for its new 2.0 remodel. The store now features a 2021 model Dance Floor and video wall.

Stage Installed Removed Notes
Balcony Stage April 1982 Late 1980's 1st Pizza Time Theatre in Kentucky. Installed on Right Side Wall.
Chuck E.'s House Late 1980's 2003 Only one installed in Kentucky. Installed on Right Side Wall.
2-Stage 2003 March 31, 2022 Show from the Hampton, VA (4027 W Mercury Blvd) location. Only 2-Stage installed in Kentucky. Installed on Right Side Wall, relocated to Back Wall during 2005 Update in Fall 2010.
Dance Floor + Video Wall March 2022 Still In Use 2021 Model. First 2021 2.0 in Kentucky. Installed on Back Wall.

History

The Florence, KY location was opened on April 19, 1982 by The Bernstein Restaurant Group. The Balcony opened with guest star Harmony Howlette, and the Lounge with The King. The location had 60+ arcade games in the Fantasy Forest, a salad bar, and was similar to other store layouts of the time. The store received the 1988 Remodel package around the same time Chuck E.'s House was installed.

In the mid-90s the store installed the record posters in the showroom. In 2003, they received the 1998 Studio C art package; the oil paintings were replaced by Must C TV signage, and the record posters were moved to the wall left of the bathrooms. On August 25, 2008, the store became a corporate-owned location.

In Fall 2010, the store remodeled to the 2005 Update of the 2003 "Cool Chuck" Reconfiguration / Major Remodel Initiative. During the remodel, the entire showroom was shifted with the stage being moved from the right wall to the back wall. A smaller version of the Skytubes were added (and removed in 2017).

The store began its 2.0 remodel on March 14, 2022; the stage was removed on March 31, 2022. The 2-Stage would be replaced in favor of a 2021 model Dance Floor. After the animatronics were removed for 2.0, they would be destroyed and sent to a landfill. The store's grand reopening was May 10th, 2022 and included the Helen Henny walkaround as part of the festivities. As of its removal, Florence was the one of the last stores to have a PTT Jasper mask and was the last store in Kentucky to have a full MMBB Show.

As of September 2023, Florence still has the 2.0 remodel and the 2021 model Dance Floor.

Videos

Link Description Filming Date Publish Date
Link Footage of Florence in 1998 1998 October 9, 2015.
Link Footage of Florence in 2000 2000 November 27, 2020.
Link Footage of Florence during January 2005 singing "Keep It Groovin'" January 2005 January 25, 2018
Link April 2013 Segment 2 at Florence. April 2013 June 28, 2013
Link Chuck E.'s Place 2017 prior to several aesthetic changes to the stage. 2017 August 13, 2017
Link Store Tour from August 2017 August 13, 2017 August 16, 2017
Link Gamin' Time prior to several aesthetic changes to the stage. August 13, 2017 April 19, 2022
Link Store Tour right after an updated game package. September 15, 2018 October 6, 2018
Link A video showcasing the 2-Stage with decorations form Bootacular 2021 October 9, 2021 October 9, 2021
Link Footage of the show after being removed April 1, 2022 April 1, 2022
Link The Remodeling Process March-April 2022 May 15, 2022
Link Documentation of Florence's history. May-June 2022 June 3, 2022
Link A short video of a Birthday Party at Florence. September 15, 2023 September 15, 2023

Gallery

  • Florences Exterior in 2005[1]

    Florences Exterior in 2005[1]

  • The Gameroom next to the entrance of the store [2]

    The Gameroom next to the entrance of the store [2]

  • The right wall of the Gameroom.[3]

    The right wall of the Gameroom.[3]

  • The Toddler Zone.[4]

    The Toddler Zone.[4]

  • More Gameroom.[5]

    More Gameroom.[5]

  • Menu at Florence.[6]

    Menu at Florence.[6]

  • Full Stage shot in 2005.[7]

    Full Stage shot in 2005.[7]

  • Last known photo of Chuck E.'s House Helen. Taken March 2000.[8]

    Last known photo of Chuck E.'s House Helen. Taken March 2000.[8]

  • Last known photo of the 2-Stage at Florence. Taken March 27, 2022.

    Last known photo of the 2-Stage at Florence. Taken March 27, 2022.

  • Florence after day 1 of stage removal. Taken March 31, 2022.

    Florence after day 1 of stage removal. Taken March 31, 2022.

Animatronics

Animatronic Serial / Manufacturing Date Whereabouts
Chuck E Cheese (Cyberamic) 1982 Removed in 2000s for 2-Stage, mechs were sent to USS Nightmare (Owned by the same owners)
Guest Star / Helen Henny (Cyberamic) 1982 Removed in 2000s for 2-Stage, body was sent to Eastgate to convert Rocker Helen into standard helen. head got sent to USS Nightmare (Owned by the same owners)
Mr. Munch (Cyberamic) 1982 Removed in 2000s for 2-Stage, mechs were sent to USS Nightmare (Owned by the same owners)
Jasper T. Jowls (Cyberamic) 1982 Removed in 2000s for 2-Stage, mechs were sent to USS Nightmare (Owned by the same owners)
Pasqually (Cyberamic) 1982 Unknown/Destroyed.
Warblettes (Cyberamic) 1982 Unknown/Destroyed.
Applause Board (Cyberamic) 1982 Unknown/Destroyed.
Drum Board (Cyberamic) 1982 Unknown/Destroyed.
Flag Wavers (Cyberamic) 1982 Unknown/Destroyed.
Singing Flowers (Cyberamic) Late 1980's Unknown/Destroyed.
The King / King Kat (Lounge) 1982 Unknown/Destroyed.
Chuck E Cheese (Cyberamic) 1982 Destroyed. Originally from Hampton, VA (4027 W Mercury Blvd). Removed in March 2022.
Guest Star / Helen Henny (Cyberamic) 1982 Destroyed. Originally from Hampton, VA (4027 W Mercury Blvd). Removed in March 2022.
Mr. Munch (Cyberamic) 1982 Destroyed. Originally from Hampton, VA (4027 W Mercury Blvd). Removed in March 2022.
Jasper T. Jowls (Cyberamic) 1982 Destroyed. Originally from Hampton, VA (4027 W Mercury Blvd). Removed in March 2022.
Pasqually (Cyberamic) 1982 Destroyed. Originally from Hampton, VA (4027 W Mercury Blvd). Removed in March 2022.

Trivia

  • Before the store was bought out by Corporate, Florence was Store #212 according to the old chuckecheese.com website from 2007. It was renumbered to Store #112 when Corporate bought out the store. The store number will be reused for the upcoming Whitter, CA (13400 Whittier Blvd) location.

References

  1. ↑ https://archive.org/details/CECflorenece-ky-2005-2021-photos/FloreneceKy2005-2007Photos0008.png/
  2. ↑ https://archive.org/details/CECflorenece-ky-2005-2021-photos/FloreneceKy2005-2007Photos0012.png/
  3. ↑ https://archive.org/details/CECflorenece-ky-2005-2021-photos/FloreneceKy2005-2007Photos0011.png
  4. ↑ https://archive.org/details/CECflorenece-ky-2005-2021-photos/FloreneceKy2005-2007Photos0004.png
  5. ↑ https://archive.org/details/CECflorenece-ky-2005-2021-photos/FloreneceKy2005-2007Photos0022.png
  6. ↑ https://archive.org/details/CECflorenece-ky-2005-2021-photos/FloreneceKy2005-2007Photos0015.png
  7. ↑ https://archive.org/details/CECflorenece-ky-2005-2021-photos/FloreneceKy2005-2007Photos0013.png
  8. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_BmWqPxny/
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