3201 Macon Rd, Store #869 is a
Showbiz Pizza/Chuck E. Cheese that opened on February 17, 1982 as a corporate
ShowBiz Pizza Place with a
Rock-Afire Explosion. It is located in the Cross Country Plaza Shopping Center. It opened a week after
Mobile, AL (710 Downtowner Loop).
Stages
Columbus opened with the Rock afire Explosion in February 1982. Unfortunately, there are no photos or videos to exist of Columbus with the Rock-Afire, or as a ShowBiz in general.
In 1991/1992, Columbus received
Concept Unification, converting the Rock afire into Munch’s Make Believe Band.
In Late 2011, Columbus converted the 3-Stage into a CU 1-Stage. This was the last of three installed. This moved the stage from the left side wall to the back wall.
On April 24, 2023, Columbus removed their CU 1-Stage for a 2019 Model
Chuck E. Live Stage and
Video Wall.
| Stage |
Installed |
Removed |
Notes |
| Rock-Afire Explosion |
February 1982 |
1991-1992 |
3rd Showbiz opened in Georgia. Installed on Left Side Wall. |
| 3-Stage |
1991-1992 |
Late 2011 |
One of 6 3-Stages in Georgia. Installed on Left Side Wall. 3rd last 3-Stage in Georgia. |
| CU 1-Stage |
Late 2011 |
April 24, 2023 |
Only CU 1-Stage in Georgia. Last CU 1-Stage installed. Installed on Back Wall. First to be removed. |
| Dance Floor + Video Wall |
April 2023 |
Still in Use |
2019 Model. First CU 1-Stage to be removed for Dance Floor. Installed on the back wall. |
History
Columbus opened its doors on February 17th, 1982 as the third Showbiz Pizza Place in Georgia with a Rock-afire Explosion show. It was originally and currently a corporate-owned store. Like many other ShowBiz Pizza 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 Columbus 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, Columbus received the Showbiz Pizza Campground upgrade.
In around 1991/1992, Columbus received Concept Unification which converted the show to Munch's Make Believe Band. In around the Mid-Late 1990's, Columbus received either
Phase 1 or
Phase 2 remodel which removed some early 90's decor and added new decor and SkyTubes. Columbus remained this way until sometime in 2006-2007 when they received the 2005 Remodel which involved removing the Showroom Walls, Balcony Seating, received a new exterior, and also removing some older 90's decor. In 2011, Columbus removed the 3-Stage for the installation for the CU 1-Stage.
Whitehall, PA (1000 Lehigh Valley Mall) and
Springfield, IL (2369 McArthur Ave) also received this special stage. That would involve moving the stage from the left side wall to the back wall, converting the space where the 3-Stage used to be into space for more games.
On April 24th, 2023, Columbus removed their CU 1-Stage for their 2.0 Remodel, being replaced with a
Dance Floor and
Video Wall. They were the first CU 1-Stage to be removed and the second last set of CEI bots in the state of Georgia. The last set,
Augusta (A
3-Stage), removed theirs the next day as a part of their 2.0 Remodel. The store's Grand Reopening occurred on May 18th, 2023 with Chuck E. and Pasqually making an appearance at the store
(1)(2).
Animatronics
Photos from 2007
Videos
TODO
