Guatemala City, Guatemala (Ave La Reforma 7-62, Zona 9)
Guatemala City, Guatemala (Ave La Reforma 7-62, Zona 9) was a franchised ShowBiz Pizza (under the name ShowBiz Pizza Plaza) that opened around 1986, closing by 1996 as a Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza.
Prior to Concept Unification, the location was not officially acknowledged by Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc. during its early years of operation. However, unlike other international ShowBiz stores, Guatemala City may have been the only location outside the United States to be converted into a Chuck E. Cheese's.
History
Avenida La Reforma opened around 1986 with a Rock-afire Explosion show, the only ShowBiz Pizza location in Guatemala. A franchise-owned store, Guatemala City's Rock-afire was originally from the Terre Haute, IN (3820 S US Hwy 41) location, which had just closed about year prior. Although there is minimal documentation of Avenida La Reforma's history, it had been confirmed to be one of the 152 conversions into Munch's Make Believe Band under Concept Unification, undergoing the process between 1992-93. By then, Guatemala City was acknowledged as an official location by Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc. (despite the franchised ownership status). After a full decade in operation, Avenida La Reforma closed permanently in 1996. Their 3-Stage show, arcade games, and store fixtures were all relocated to the larger (and best remembered) Guatemala City, Guatemala (Blvd Liberación 6-31, Zona 9) store.
Rock-afire + Cyberamics Myth
It is a common misconception that Avenida La Reforma contained both a Rock-afire and a Cyberamics Balcony Stage during its life span, similarly in concept to the unrelated ShowBiz Pizza Fiesta locations throughout Mexico. While it is true that the Boulevard Liberación store opened with Cyberamics (in this case a 2-Stage) alongside the relocated Avenida La Reforma 3-Stage, the current consensus is that the 2-Stage (and thus the Cyberamics) originated from a United States location (supposedly in the New York area) that permanently closed by 1996. Likewise, there is no evidence that suggests the presence of Cyberamics, let alone a Balcony Stage installation, in Avenida La Reforma. Due to a lack of information, this claim is unconfirmed.
Stages
Stage | Installed | Removed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Rock-afire Explosion | 1986 | 1992-93 | Relocated from Terre Haute, IN (3820 S US Hwy 41). |
3-Stage | 1992-93 | 1996 | Sent to Guatemala City, Guatemala (Blvd Liberación 6-31, Zona 9). |