Lexington, KY (1555 New Circle Rd)

Lexington, KY (1555 New Circle Rd) #156 originally opened up on December 1, 1983^[1], as a Showbiz Pizza Place ^[1] and would close on August 3, 2025, as a Chuck E. Cheese. ^[2]

History

Pre-Opening

On May 25, 1983 the Lexington Herald-Leader announced that Lexington was planned to get a ShowBiz Pizza Place in October 1983. ‘There will be a game room with more than 70 video games, a Ferris wheel and merry-g-round, computerized robots singing pop tunes from the ’50s and ’60s, and a “quiet” room with a giant TV screen^[3]. August 18, 1983 a notice of intention was posted on part of McBiz Corporation “to apply for a retail beer license, resturant, wine dealer license"^[4] By August 28, 1983 the McBiz Corporation was “seeking experienced Electronics Technicians” ^[5]

Opening

Lexington would open on December 1, 1983. The location would be the second Showbiz Pizza Place to open in the state of Kentucky. The store would also feature a bawl crawl as an attraction.^[6] On March 5, 1984 Hamill & McKinny Architects - Engineers - Interdesigners would mention working on the Lexington Showbiz Pizza Place.^[7]

1980’s

On Feburary 18, 1984 ShowBiz Pizza Place would take assist in selling cookies for the Girl Scouts. “Mary Bacallo, ShowBiz Pizza Place community relations director, said troops could come to the business to sell cookies or that “Billy Bob,” the resturant’s bear mascot, “will go out with the girls door-to-door"^[8] Between April 1st through April 8th 1984 The Lexington ShowBiz Pizza Place would hold a color contest to see who could best color “Pot Belly Bunny, Renaldo and Bottle Bunny” the contest would require the colored photos to be brought to Stewart’s children’s deptartment where you would win a Billy Bob Buck. The winner would receieve a free party for six, one large pizza, a pitcher of soft drinks, $5 in game tokens and a plush bunny. Judging would be based upon “neatness, originality and overall appearance. Entrants will be placed in 2 age groups – 3-6 and 7-11, with one winner in each group”, The winners would be announced on April 14, where Billy Bob would be present from 2 - 4 p.m.^[9] On May 25, 1984 Billy Bob would be at the Polar Bear Swim at Tales Creek Pool.^[9] On June 3, 1984 Billy Bob would make an appearance at “The Festival of the Bluegrass” ^[10] On October 30th and October 31st at 7:30p.m. a “Safe Halloween Celebration” would take place at the ShowBiz Pizza Place. Every child in costume would get a treat and prize, Costume Contest, and a Haunted House was constructed exclusively being stated as “one entire room at ShowBiz decorated ghoulishly, free admission!” ^[11] Lexington’s ShowBiz would participate in the New Year’s Countdown promotion happening on New Year’s Eve from 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. and New Year’s Day from 4 p.m. - closing ^[12]

On February 15th through the 17th, 1985 ShowBiz Pizza Place would host Charlie Myrick “One of the World’s Greatest Magicians!” ^[13] On May 22nd through the 24th, 1985 ShowBiz Pizza Place would present Clifford Guest “A Ventriloquist With A Difference” at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. & 7 p.m. ^[14] On June 28, 1985 Billy Bob’s Birthday Celebration would take place featuring all day double tokens, free silce of birthday cake, free autographed pictures of Billy Bob, and Door Prize Drawings at 7:00 p.m. with potential winnings being “1 Birthday Party for 6, 2 “Family Night Out” packages, and 1 Video Game” with the M.C. being WVLK Disc Jockey Will from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. ^[14] On December 1, 1985 from 5 to 7pm Santa’s Arrival Party would take place! On December 1st through December 22nd 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lexington’s ShowBiz allowed guests to “have dinner with Santa and Billy Bob!”. ^[15] Lexington’s ShowBiz would participate in the New Year’s Countdown promotion happening on New Year’s Eve from 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. and New Year’s Day from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. ^[16]

All day on October 30th and October 31st, 1986 Lexington’s ShowBiz would have Safe Halloween Parties! Featuring the same events as last year with the addition that Fan Club Members get 2 free tokens. ^[17]

During Feburary 1987 Free Sugarless Drinks, Free Popcorn and Pictures with the tooth fairy (for $2.00) would take place to celebrate Children’s Dental Health Month. The event would return in 1988 although without the tooth fairy. ^[19] All day on October 30th and October 31st, 1987 Lexington’s ShowBiz would have Safe Halloween Parties! “Every child in costume receives a free treat, Parade of Costumes, Exciting games and activites! FREE Face Painting!”. ^[20]

During Feburary 1988 Free Sugarless Drinks and Free Popcorn would be avalible. ^[18] In July 1988 Mrs. Alexander, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Women held a party which featured Billy Bob from ShowBiz Pizza Place. ^[21]

Between 1988 and 1990 Lexington would recieve the SPT 1980's Remodel Program and would install the ShowBiz Pizza Campground on its Rock-afire Explosion

1990’s

McAlpin’s Health-tex fall playwear had a photoshot at the Lexington ShowBiz in August 1990. ^[22]

In November 1991 Lexington’s Rock-afire Explosion would under go Concept Unification becoming the Concept Unification Stage. ^[24]

During Spring 1993 Lexington would undergo the SPT 1990's Remodel Program. In May 1993 fixtures would be sold at auction such as “Glass Entrance Doors - 4 Total Glass Front Display Cases, Laminated Table Tops, Stainless Steel Salad Bar Pan, Upholstered Booths 2’ x 4’ Flurorescent Ceiling Lights, Restroom Toliet Partions”. All items could be seen through May 9th and would need to be picked up by May 14th. ^[23]

Chuck E. Cheese would be seen as apart of Lexington’s Christmas Parade on December 2, 1995. ^[24]

On September 16, 1996 CEC Entertainment would purchase the stores owned by McBiz Corporation. ^[27]

Between 1995 and 1997 would recieve Phase 1 (1994). ^[25] Between 1997 and 1999 would recieve Phase 2 (1997).

2000’s

Between 2000 and 2003 would recieve Phase 2 (1997).

By Summer 2004 All animatronics would have their latex masks replaced with plastic masks and Munch Jr would be removed. ^[31]

Between January 2002 and Fall 2005 the Derby on the Animatronic Chuck E. Cheese would be replaced by his Cool Chuck hat. ^[32]

In 2006 CEC Entertainment appealed “for an administrative review to transfer 65 square feet of unused signage to allow to be placed on a front wall elevation that already has one permitted wall sign, in a Highway Service Business (B-3) zone, on property located 1543 East New Circle Road (Council District 7)”. ^[26] Between 2006 and 2007 Lexington’s Chuck E. Cheese’s would recieve the CEC 2000's Remodel Program and would replace its Concept Unification Stage with the Studio C Beta. ^[27]

By October 2008 the Chuck E. Cheese 16m (Animatronic) would have its Cool Chuck shirt and shorts replaced with the Avenger Chuck shirt and shorts. ^[30]

2010’s

By 2015 the Avenger Chuck shirt was replaced by the Rockstar Chuck shirt. ^[33]

On March 12, 2016, the Lexington Chuck E. Cheese’s would close early due to being “overwhelmed by the number of kids in the establishment….A corporate spokeswomen blamed the situation on a manager who decided to close the restaurant early”. ^[29] On June 29, 2016, a man attempted to rob the Lexington Chuck E. Cheese’s during a job interview “On Wednesday at about 4 p.m., a man implied he had a firearm and attempted to rob the New Circle Road Chuck E. Cheese’s. Police said the restaurant’s manager convinced the suspect to leave the premises without taking anything”. ^[28]

By mid 2017 Chuck E.'s Play Pass would be installed on all games. ^[34]

During September 2019 the store would begin its CEC 2.0 Remodel Program. The SkyTubes would be removed during the remodel and the Studio C Beta would be removed by late September. ^[34] Lexington would celebrate its Grand Re-Opening on November 6, 2019 with Helen Henny and Mr. Munch. ^[35]

2020’s

In March 2020 the Lexington Chuck E. Cheese would close due to Covid-19. The location would re-open during Summer 2020. ^[27]

In April 2024 a family stated they had severe sickness due to the food at the Lexington Chuck E. Cheese landing one in the hospital. The Chuck E. Cheese would soon after temporarily close due to the Lexington Fayette County Health Department and would shut down the kitchen. According to a statement released by CEC Entertainmy to WKYT they stated “on Tuesday, April 9th our location was inspected and failed because our new manager did not have a local health department food handler permit. This was caused by the sudden departure of the former manager of this location, who held the certificate/permit. Our new manager has already passed the exam, received the new permit and we are awaiting a new inspection to complete the paperwork on said certification”. ^[37] The kitchen would reopen on April 12, 2024. On August 30, 2024 Lexington’s Trampoline Zone would finish installation. ^[36]

On August 3, 2025 the Lexington, Chuck E. Cheese would close. ^[2] Removal process for games being sent to other stores would be assisted by Vincent Fister Inc. ^[38]

Animatronics