Sharonville, OH (1429 E Kemper Rd)
Opening: Oct. 21, 1981 - Present
Latitude Longitude: , 39.28390862-84.44942663
Stages
The store opened with the Classic Stage on October 21, 1981. They would receive Klunk in 1983 as part of The Amazing Uncle Klunk Traveling Show (Event) .(4) They would also retain Klunk retrofitting him into Santa as part of Santa On Stage Show 1983 (Event) .(5) On January 8, 1984 the store would cease operations removing the Rock-afire Explosion.On September 8, 1992 the store would re-open as a Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza now featuring a 2-Stage throughout the years the 2-Stage would have cosmetic changes done to it throughout the 2000s. Between 2002-2004 Chucks Tux would be removed for his 'Cool Chuck' attire, Between 2006 - 2009 the stage would receive more changes such as replacing Helen's dress removing the old patch design, & Pasquallys eyelids being repainted from brown to peach,
Between 2013-2014 Helen would receive a new mask. In 2018 the CRT would be replaced with a flat screen in March 2018. It would then sit in the trash until May 2020 (outliving the stage by 5 months). In September 2018 the Cool Chuck shorts would be replaced with the Rockstar Jeans. On October 30, 2019. the MMBB Sign, Munch's hat, Jasper's hat, & Pasqually's hat were taken by managers.
The Video Ring would be installed on October 14, 2019 and the Dance Floor installed on October 30, 2019. The 2-Stage would be removed that night. The Head and Shoulders of Chuck E. Cheese, Helen, Munch, Jasper, and Pasqually would be sent to Florence, KY (7635 Mall Rd) in November 2019 for parts. The parts would then be thrown out in Summer 2021 during a cleanout in preparation of the 2.0 Remodel.
On August 12, 2024 Sharonville would install Video Wall and on August 13, 2024 would upgrade the Dance Floor to the 2021 Model.
| Stage | Debuted | Removed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Stage | October 21, 1981 | January 1984 | |
| 2-Stage | September 8, 1992 | October 30, 2019 | 24' 2-Stage |
| Chuck E Live Stage (Dance Floor) | October 30, 2019 | August 12, 2024 | 2019 Model |
| Video Wall | August 12, 2024 | Still In Use | Eclipse Model |
| Chuck E Live Stage (Dance Floor) | August 13, 2024 | Still In Use | 2021 Model |
History
The Sharonville, OH Showbiz Pizza Place opened up on October 21, 1981, as the 1st Showbiz Pizza Store in Ohio. The store featured The Rock Afire Explosion, '60 New Games, Billy Bob's Oven-Fresh Pizza, Sandwiches, Salad Bar!' & more. (6) In 1982 to support for the Bengals getting into Super Bowl XVI Showbiz Pizza ran a promotion at Sharonville, OH & Cincinnati, OH (8801 Colerain Ave) .(7) The event would happen January 24th in which you'd watch the event on a 'Wide Screen TV' and also bring in cans of soup in return 'Four Free Game Tokens and the soup goes to charity'. On January 8, 1984, the Showbiz Pizza Place would close as 'part of a series of 40 closings and sales designed to trim operations in 'over-saturated' markets.(2)In 1985 a nightclub named 'Sneaker's' (also known as Sneaker's Nite Club) opened up inside the former Showbiz Pizza Place(9) Soon after the nightclub would be renamed 'Sneakers of Cincinnati' In 1987 'Sneakers of Cincinnati' would close due to failing to pay rent. An auction would be held on December 29, 1987 at 10:00am. Some of the items sold were 'Doors, rug, telephones, broken chairs, store bus, records, mike stand, sander, jars, heavy duty Sawz-all, 3 backgammon boards & dice, 2 malt makers, 18 unit locker, 4 chairs, volleyball, display cases, trivia pursuit game, 2 large rolls of drapery fabric'.(10)
The property would sit vacant until January 1991 when the property would be put up for sale with it being advertised as 'TRI-COUNTY 1429 E. Kemper, formerly Sneakers Nite Club, 10,000+ S.F. on 1.66 acres, F.F. & E. included Excellent retail opportunity in heart of Tri-County'.(11) later that year in August 1991 'Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc' would purchase the property for $675,000(12)
On September 8, 1992, the Sharonville, OH Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza would open. The store was one of the first to receive
SPT 1990's Remodel Program and also obtain the
2-Stage . It would retain the layout of the Showbiz Pizza Place but with changes done by Sneakers of Cincinnati such as installing a walkway into the kitchen on the left of what was originally the Salad Bar. This would mean the Food Tray would be installed in the kitchen instead of out front for any guest to access.
Louisville, KY (5743 Preston Hwy) would begin showing up on the advertisements despite not being nearby to other locations on said advertisements. The store is removed in November 1997 after closing.(13)
on November 23rd, 1993 (10 am-7 pm) an 'Informational Open House' was held by 'Chuck E. Cheese's/ShowBiz' to tell restaurant management the facts about their growth in 1993 and their 'livable' schedules.(14)
In 1996 they would receive
Phase 1 (1994) During this they'd install the Skytubes, a New Game Package, and Kid Check the store would also receive new artwork such as the magazines and sports fixtures. During this revamp the 'Kiddie Ride' area would have the Munch (1991 Portrait), Helen (1991 Portrait)|Jasper (1991 Portrait) Helen (1991 Portrait), Chuck E. Cheese (1991 Portrait) & Ball Bath Sign removed for new artwork/sports fixtures such as Munch Empire State Building (SPT Décor), Toddler Town Sign (SPT Signage), Red Crayon, Blue Crayon, Ruler, Star (6') x2,
Rolling Stone (Magazine) , GQ Chuck E Charming (Magazine),
Soccer (Magazine) Hollywood (1991 Postcard), & Wild West (1991 Postcard)
Between 1997 and 1999 they would then receive Phase 2 (1997) this would be when they'd redesign the prize counter & a new game package.
Lastly, between 2000 - 2003, they would receive Phase 3 (2000) with the Toddler Zone installed next to the kitchen in the former 'Toddler Town' section.
In Fall 2005 Sharonville would receive the CEC 2000's Remodel Program being one of the first in the country to receive the remodel. Due to this, the store would keep its dim lighting. In 2010 Sharonville would receive a minor update to the store replacing all the dim lighting with fluorescent lighting. Addition of several pieces of artwork such as two pieces from the CEC Warhol - Quad (CEC Décor) set, 'Celebration' (CEC Décor) and 'Family' (CEC Décor)
In Winter 2014 the store would receive another Game Package replacing/removing several older games such as Tower of Power & Chuck E. Cheese's Photo Ride (1997). The Photo Ride being replaced with Chuck E. Cheese's Photo Ride (2014) In April 2016, the Skytubes were removed, allowing for an increase in games. Along with that, the signage for the Toddler Zone was removed. Lastly, Sharonville received a Game Package with several older games being sent to other stores in the district.
In December 2017 the back wall of the Toddler Zone was painted the same green as seen in the 2015 Update. One of the Cool Chuck Logo (CEC Signage) would be removed & the Toddler Zone fort would be moved to the back wall during this.(15)
After Cincinnati, OH (8801 Colerain Ave) closed Sharonville would receive an unused roll of carpet, Train Ride Statue, Tik Tak Chuck Statue, One of the CEC Warhol - Quad (CEC Décor) posters, 'Good Behavior Guideline' sign, & The menus were sent to Sharonville. The menus, 'Good Behavior Guideline' sign, & roll of carpet were quickly trashed. Due to 2.0
On October 8, 2019, Sharonville started its 2.0 remodel this would involve removing all pre-existing artwork, removing 2-Stage, removing pre-existing carpet, removing tiles, removing old fixtures installing new artwork, painting walls white, black, and some grey stripes, installing new booths, chairs, and tables, Installation of Dance Floor and Video Ring, and complete revamp of the exterior. November 30, 2019, would mark another new game package for Sharonville. One of the new rides was Chuck E. Cheese's Color Photo Ride (Avenger, 2019) which was a manufacturing error leading to brand new Avenger Chuck statues being installed in 2019. When replacing the bathroom doors one of the doors was saved and reused for doors for the control room.(16) The Grand Re-Opening would take place on December 12, 2019, (17) with the remodel being fully finalized in January 2020.
For a brief time in 2020 photos of the exterior pre and post 2.0 were installed on the control room doors. In February 2020 the Train Ride Statue from Cincinnati, OH (8801 Colerain Ave) was put on display on the Prize Counter. Then in late 2020 the Tik Tak Chuck statue replaced the Train Ride Statue.(16)The statue would be removed sometime in 2022.
On August 12, 2024, Sharonville would begin its 'Entertainment Upgrade' throughout the week this would involve installing Video Wall , Upgrading the Dance Floor to the 2021 Model, replacement of old 'Character Portrait' posters with new posters to fit the new size limitations, and new games. Then on August 27, 2024, Sharonville would install its Trampoline Zone.
Videos
| Link | Description | Footage Date |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Shows the stage playing Birthday 2009 | 2009 |
| YouTube | Shows the stage in 2013 playing April 2013 Segment 6 | April 16, 2013 |
| YouTube | Shows the stage in 2016 playing 'In The Future' | March 30, 2016 |
| YouTube | Shows the stage in 2017 playing 'Chuck E.'s Place' | May 13, 2017 |
| YouTube | Store Tour showcasing the store less than a year before 2.0 | August 11, 2018 |
| YouTube | Shows the stage in 2019 playing 'Gamin' Time' | May 4, 2019 |
| YouTube | Documentation of the store during the remodel | October-December 2019 |
| YouTube | Footage of the grand re-opening, store tour, and live show. | December 13, 2019 |
Animatronics:
| Character | Serial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rolfe Dewolfe & Earl Schmerle (Animatronic) | 4-81 1-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Dook Larue (Animatronic) | 4-81 2-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Fatz Geronimo (Animatronic) | 4-81 3-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Beach Bear (Animatronic) | 4-81 4-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Mitzi Mozzarella (Animatronic) | 4-81 5-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Billy Bob (Animatronic) | 4-81 6-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Looney Bird (Animatronic) | 4-81 7-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Choo Choo (Animatronic) | 4-81 8-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Sun (Animatronic) | 4-81 11-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Moon (Animatronic) | 4-81 11-5 | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Antioch (Animatronic) | N/A | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Uncle Klunk (Animatronic) | N/A | Unknown/Destroyed |
| Chuck E Cheese (Cyberamic)|Chuck E. Cheese (Cyberamic) | Unknown | Parts sent to Florence. Now destroyed. |
| Guest Star Helen Henny (Cyberamic) | Unknown | Parts sent to Florence. Now destroyed. |
| Mr Munch (Cyberamic) | Unknown | Parts sent to Florence. Now destroyed. |
| Jasper T Jowls (Cyberamic) | Unknown | Parts sent to Florence. Now destroyed. |
| Pasqually (Cyberamic) | Unknown | Parts sent to Florence. Now destroyed. |
| Wink (Cyberamic) | N/A | Unknown/Destroyed |
References
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/spp/spp_sales_company_8-81_8-82.pdf
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/121527379/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/101812397/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/103319155/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/101720183/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/103183555/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/100430208/?match=1
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/121527379/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/100739017/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/102188782/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/103065384/?terms=%221429%20E%20Kemper%22%20&match=1
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/102106249/?terms=%221429%20E%20Kemper%22%20&match=1
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/101919542/
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/101931521/
- https://youtu.be/XrManuWkJmA
- https://youtu.be/eRjHjw41hfE
- https://youtu.be/OGzY4lbWz9M
- https://youtu.be/eRjHjw41hfE