Roanoke, VA (4059 Electric Rd)
4059 Electric Rd, Store #972 was a Showbiz Pizza Place located in Roanoke, Virginia.
This location opened as a ShowBiz Pizza Place on June 21st, 1983, and is still open today.
History
Showbiz
Roanoke opened as the 1st Showbiz Pizza Place in Virginia, they originally featured the Rock-Afire Explosion, as all other Showbiz locations did. they would have it for a few years. It is unknown if they ever remodeled when they were Showbiz.
Tux Chuck and Cool Chuck Eras
In around 1991, Roanoke underwent Concept Unification, and The Rock-afire was replaced by Munch's Make Believe Band, complete with all of the characters including extras such as Building, Moon, Wink, Pizzacam, and Munch Jr. Chuck E. wore his signature black tuxedo and red derby hat. The latex masks were all replaced by plastic masks pre-2003. In the 2000s, Chuck E.'s tux and derby were replaced by a red cap with a black 'C', a blue shirt with a yellow 'C', and khaki shorts (Cool Chuck outfit). The stage had working curtains up until curtains were no longer programmed. Interestingly, Munch Jr. was removed sometime before 2003. Building & Moon functioned until around 2016-2017.
Avenger Era
In around 2006-2007, the store received the 2005 Remodel which involved the removal of Showroom Walls, Balcony Seating, & adding purple walls.
In Mid 2012, the store received a major expansion which involved raising the ceilings and a new facade that new stores received at the time. This also added more space for games and a new entrance on the left hand side of the store.
Present Day
Roanoke featured a 3-Stage with Pizzacam (Later Retro-Cam) & Building (Behind Helen and wasn't not functioning before removal). This store was the last location in the state of Virginia to have the Pizzacam animatronic.
In July 2022, the store remodeled to 2.0 which involved the removal of the 3-Stage for a Dance Floor & Video Wall. In around August 2022, the stage was removed. On September 17th, 2022, Roanoke hosted their Grand Reopening[1], therefore ending the process. As of February 2023, Roanoke still has the 2.0 Remodel and 2021 Dance Floor + Video Wall.
Stages
Originally, Roanoke featured a Rock-Afire Explosion, as all other Showbiz locations did, in around 1991, they would undergo Concept Unification, turning the RAE into the 3-Stage, they would have the 3-Stage until around August 2022; In August 2022, they would replace the 3-Stage with a Dance Floor and Video Wall, as part of their 2.0 remodel, they were the 2nd to last 3-Stage in Virginia. As of February 2023, they still have this remodel.
| Stage | Installed | Removed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock-Afire Explosion | June 1983 | 1991 | 1st Showbiz to open in Virginia. |
| 3-Stage | 1991 | August 2022 | One of five to undergo Concept Unification. |
| Dance Floor + Video Wall | August 2022 | Still In Use | 2021 Model. |
Animatronics
| Animatronic | Serial | Whereabouts |
|---|---|---|
| Chuck E. Cheese / Rolfe DeWolfe | 10-82 1-18 | Destroyed |
| Pasqually / Dook Larue | 10-82 2-18 | Destroyed |
| Mr. Munch / Fatz Geronimo | 10-82 3-18 | Destroyed |
| Jasper T. Jowls / Beach Bear | 10-82 4-18 | Destroyed |
| Helen Henny / Mitzi Mozzarella | 10-82 5-18 | Destroyed |
| Billy Bob | 10-82 6-18 | Unknown |
| Pizzacam / Looney Bird | 10-82 7-18 | Destroyed |
| Munch Jr. / Choo Choo | 10-82 8-18 | Destroyed |
| Building / Sun | 10-82 10-18 | Destroyed |
| Moon | 10-82 11-18 | Destroyed |
| Antioch | N/A | Destroyed |
| Wink | N/A | Destroyed |
Gallery
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Exterior back when it was Showbiz Pizza Place (1980s)
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Some of the Showroom back when it was Showbiz (1980s)
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Brief photo of Stage Left back in the 1990s
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Exterior on February 10th, 2007 before 2012 Expansion
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Stage Left back in 2011
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Stage Center at an Unknown Date
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Stage Right at an Unknown Date
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Roanoke, VA Exterior after 2012 Expansion & Before July 2022 2.0 Remodel
Videos
| Link | Description | Filming Date |
|---|---|---|
| Link | Video Shows some of the store when it was ShowBiz Pizza Place back in 1988. The first half of the video shows the RockAfire Explosion. | August 20, 1988 |
| Link | Seans 5th Birthday at Chuck E Cheese (2009). The Video Shows some of the store before the 2012 Expansion. | November 16, 2011 |
| Link | Chuck E. Cheese Fun Family vlog in which they visit Roanoke | January 23, 2019 |
| Link | A Family vlog in which they visit Roanoke | June 11, 2022 |
| Link | A Family vlog in which they visit Roanoke during Bootacular 2022 | October 8, 2022 |