Street view of the store's Exterior before the 2.0 remodel (August 2021) (PC: Google Maps)
100 24th Street West, Store #2082/210 was a Showbiz Pizza Place that opened on August 6, 1984, with a
Rock-Afire Explosion, which is still open to this day with the 2.0 remodel.
Billings received CU in 1991 or 1992 and was acquired by CEC Entertainment, LLC in October 2022, along with
Fargo, North Dakota (1202 Nodak Dr). Billings is the only CEC in the state of Montana.
Stages
Billings opened with the Rock afire Explosion in 1984. Unfortunately, there are hardly any photos or videos to exist of Billings with the Rock afire, or as a Showbiz in general. But there is a photo of its original exterior.
In the 1990s, Billings received
Concept Unification, converting the Rock afire into Munch’s Make-Believe Band.
Billings also had one of the last
Building animatronics and one of the last
Moon animatronics.
The 3-stage was removed on July 28th, 2024 for the Dance Floor and the Video Wall. It was one of the last 2, as the final 3-Stage in existence is at the
Charlotte, NC (Pineville) location. The show was sent back to the
Showbiz Pizza Time Distribution Center to be used for unknown purposes.
Stage |
Installed |
Removed |
Notes |
Rock-Afire Explosion |
August 1984 |
1991 or 1992 |
Only ShowBiz in Montana. |
3-Stage |
1991 or 1992 |
July 28, 2024 |
One of 2 remaining Concept Unification stages before removal. Last 3 stage to be removed. |
Dance Floor |
August 2024 |
Still in use |
|
Video Wall |
August 2024 |
Still in use |
|
History
Billings opened its doors on August 6th, 1984, with a Rock-afire Explosion show. It was originally a franchise-owned store. Like many other Showbiz locations, it had a typical SPP layout seen in many other stores across the United States and would eventually receive the 1988 remodel years after it would open. Although very little documentation exists back in the ShowBiz days, it can be determined that Billings was one of several locations to receive an Uncle Klunk show package (and a Santa Claus retrofit package as well) sometime after opening. Like many ShowBiz locations in the late 1980s, Billings received the Showbiz Pizza Campground upgrade.
In around 1991/1992, Billings received Concept Unification which converted the show to Munch's Make-Believe Band. In around the Mid-Late 1990's, Billings received either
Phase 1 or
Phase 2 remodel. Billings, along with
Fargo, North Dakota, was one of the first locations to switch to Pepsi in the 2000s. Billings still remained in their 1990s remodel until sometime in 2015 when they received the major 2005 Remodel which involved removing the Showroom Walls, balcony Seating, and redoing the entire left-hand side of the store, only leaving the Pickup Window. They would also be the last CEC store to ever receive the 2005 remodel, as the long time remodeling initiative ended the same year, after 10 years. Both Billings and Fargo were bought out by Corporate in October 2022, with Fargo getting the 2.0 remodel two months after being acquired by corporate.
Billings' 2.0 remodel was continuously pushed back until July 28th, 2024, when it finally began. The stage was removed in phases, the first being the removal of all animatronics except Chuck E. After this, Chuck E. was removed and lastly, all of the props. The stage was taken to the SPT Distribution Center. This remodel would make Montana officially bot-less as Billings is Montana's only CEC location.
As of August 2024, The remodel is officially completed.
Videos
Link |
Description |
Credit |
Publishing Date |
https://youtu.be/eWvu00Ndmbg?si=ag6ejppD0ZF5p_h7 |
Store visit of the Billings store, along with footage of their 3-Stage. |
Sets, Streets & Eats |
March 10, 2024 |
Animatronics
Trivia
- Before Corporate renumbered Franchised locations to four digit store numbers in 2010, Billings' current store number (210) was used for the Wilmington, NC (4389 Oleander Dr) location; In 2010, it was renumbered to Store #2070 until closure. It's unknown if Billings had a three digit store number before 2010.