Southgate, MI (15300 Toledo Rd)
15300 Dix Toledo Rd, Store #713 is a Showbiz Pizza Place/Chuck E. Cheese that opened on June 17, 1982 as a corporate store with a Rock-afire Explosion, which is still open to this day.
It is located in an unnamed shopping center.
History
Southgate opened on June 17th, 1982 as the 1st Showbiz Pizza Place in Michigan and as a corporate-owned store and was an expansion of the shopping center it was in. Southgate originally featured the Rock-afire Explosion, as all other Showbiz locations did. Southgate would have it for a few years, until around 1991, when they would receive the 1988 remodel / SPT 1988 Remodel Program, receiving Concept Unification, where the Rock-Afire Explosion characters were changed to the Chuck E. Cheese characters, adding Blue and White awnings above the salad bar, added checkers around inside and outside the store, and removing all SPP decor for CEC decor.
In around 1999/2000, Southgate would receive the another remodel which removed all older 90's decor, added newer decor, removed all checkers inside and outside of the store, and added SkyTubes and Toddler Zone. In 2006-2007, Southgate received the 2005 Update to the 2003 "Cool Chuck" Reconfiguration / Major Remodel Initiative removing older decor, removing the Showroom Walls, Balcony Seating, painting the walls purple, relocated the stage, and adding bright florescent lighting. Southgate would remain like this until August 2019 when they would receive the 2.0 Remodel removing all older decor for newer decor, received a new game package, replaced booths, and removed the 3-Stage for a 2019 Model Dance Floor. Currently as of May 2023, Southgate still has the 2.0 Remodel and 2019 Model Dance Floor.
Stages
Originally, Southgate featured a Rock-Afire Explosion, as all other Showbiz locations did. In 1991, they would undergo Concept Unification, turning the Rock-Afire Explosion into the 3-Stage.
Southgate would have the 3-Stage until in August 2019 when the 3-Stage was replaced with a 2019 Model Dance Floor as part of their 2.0 Remodel.
Currently, as of August 2023, Southgate still has their 2019 Model Dance Floor.
| Stage | Installed | Removed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock-Afire Explosion | June 1982 | 1991 | 1st Showbiz store to open in Michigan. |
| 3-Stage | 1991 | August 2019 | One of 6 Showbiz Pizza Stores in Michigan to undergo Concept Unification. |
| Dance Floor | August 2019 | Still In Use | 3rd 2.0 in Michigan. 2019 Model. |
Animatronics
| Character | Serial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Chuck E. Cheese / Rolfe DeWolfe | 10-81 1-8 | Owned by a Private Collector. |
| Pasqually / Dook Larue | 10-81 2-8 | Owned by a Private Collector. |
| Mr. Munch / Fatz Geronimo | 10-81 3-8 | Owned by a Private Collector. |
| Jasper T. Jowls / Beach Bear | 10-81 4-8 | Owned by a Private Collector. |
| Helen Henny / Mitzi Mozzarella | 10-81 5-8 | Owned by a Private Collector. |
| Billy Bob | 10-81 6-8 | Unknown/Destroyed. |
| Pizzacam / Looney Bird | 10-81 7-8 | Unknown/Destroyed. |
| Munch Jr. / Choo Choo | 10-81 8-8 | Unknown/Destroyed. |
| Building / Sun | 10-81 10-8 | Destroyed. |
| Moon | 10-81 11-8 | Destroyed. |
| Antioch | N/A | Unknown/Destroyed. |
| Wink | N/A | Owned by a Private Collector. |
Gallery
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Southgates Exterior in 2018
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An ad promoting the opening of Southgate from 1982
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The checkers on the walls from the SPT 1988 Remodel Program
Videos
https://youtu.be/POi9zOCGzYU?si=TZTy5Huao8CJSs8G
Footage of the Rock-afire Explosion in 1989
References
TODO