West Des Moines, IA (1431 22nd St)
1431 22nd St was a Showbiz Pizza Place that opened on October 13, 1980 with a Rock-Afire Explosion, which is still open to this day as a Chuck E. Cheese's with a 3-Stage.
This location was the 5th Showbiz to open, and the 4th RAE installed, they would receive Concept Unification in 1991 or 1992, and still have the 3-Stage, being the last animatronic show in the state of Iowa.
History
West Des Moines opened on October 13th, 1980 as a Showbiz Pizza Place with a Rock-afire Explosion. This was the 1st Showbiz in Iowa, the 4th Rock-afire Explosion installed, and the 5th Showbiz to open. In 1981, the beta bots were replaced with the current bots. In the late '80s, they received the 1988 remodel, which involved SPP decor for SPT decor, changed the exterior, added awnings above the counters, and received the Showbiz Pizza Campground Upgrade. West Des Moines remained like this until 1991/1992, when they received Concept Unification. This involved removing all Showbiz decor, changed the exterior again, and removed the Rock-afire Explosion for a 3-Stage. In the mid-late '90s, they received the 1993 remodel, involving entirely refurbishing the restaurant, and changing the exterior once again, but removed the SPP facade. In 2011/2012, they received the 2005 remodel, involving removing all '90s decor for new decor, tearing down the showroom walls, removing balcony seating, removed the dim lighting, and changed the exterior once again. As of July 2023, West Des Moines still remains like this.
Stages
Originally when the store opened, they had a Rock-Afire Explosion, they were the 4th RAE installed, and originally had the "Beta" bots, which had hollow frames, unlike the later ones, which have solid frames. They would replace the original bots in 1981, as all other "Beta" shows. In around 1991 or 1992, they would undergo Concept Unification, this was the process used to convert the RAE characters into the Chuck E. Cheese characters. As of October 2022, they still have the 3-Stage (With Building and Moon disabled), with it also being the last 3-Stage in Iowa, but also the last animatronic stage in the state, as Davenport (second Showbiz in the state) and Cedar Falls (relocation of the fourth Showbiz in the state, which relocated in 2001) are both 2.0.
| Stage | Installed | Removed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock-Afire Explosion | October 1980 | 1991-1992 | Original bots replaced in 1981. |
| 3-Stage | 1991-1992 | July 2023 | Last animatronic stage in Iowa. Munch has Cyberamic keyboard. No Wink. Chuck E. Wears rare "Cool Chuck" outfit. |
Animatronics
| Animatronic | Serial Code | Whereabouts |
|---|---|---|
| Beta Rolfe DeWolfe | 7-80 1-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Dook Larue | 7-80 2-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Fatz Geronimo | 7-80 3-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Beach Bear | 7-80 4-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Mitzi Mozzarella | 7-80 5-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Billy Bob | 7-80 6-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Looney Bird | 7-80 7-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Choo Choo | 7-80 8-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Sun | 7-80 10-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Moon | 7-80 11-4 | Destroyed |
| Beta Antioch | N/A | Destroyed |
| Chuck E. Cheese / Rolfe DeWolfe | 4-81 1-3 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Pasqually / Dook Larue | 4-81 2-3 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Mr. Munch / Fatz Geronimo | 4-81 3-3 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Jasper T. Jowls / Beach Bear | 4-81 4-3 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Helen Henny / Mitzi Mozzarella | 4-81 5-3 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Billy Bob | 4-81 6-3 | Unknown / Destroyed |
| Pizzacam / Looney Bird | 4-81 7-3 | Unknown / Destroyed |
| Munch Jr. / Choo Choo | 4-81 8-3 | Unknown / Destroyed |
| Building / Sun | 4-81 10-3 | Disabled |
| Moon | 4-81 11-3 | Disabled |
| Antioch | N/A | Destroyed |
| Wink | N/A | Unknown if ever had it. |
Gallery
TODO
Youtube Videos
| Link | Title | Published Date / Filming Date | Credit To |
|---|---|---|---|
| https://youtu.be/0RTuUb_jK90 | Together We've Got It | Chuck E. Cheese's West Des Moines, Iowa | April 29, 2022 | Showbiz Midwest |
| https://youtu.be/JDqfYM84wbU | Chuck E.Cheese's 3-Stage Curtains Open/Close At The West Des Moines, IA location | January 29, 2022 | ShowbizPizzaKid |
| https://youtu.be/1-U74AWbdAs | Chuck E. Cheese’s West Des Moines, Iowa ‘Out of This World’ | June 22, 2021 | Showbiz Nebraska |