Vernon Hills, IL (700 N Milwaukee Ave)

Vernon Hills, IL (700 N Milwaukee Ave) was a Chuck E. Cheese’s that opened on April 8, 2004 with the Phase 3 remodel and Studio C Beta and closed on June 18, 2020 with the CEC 2.0 Remodel Program . This location was known for being the last Phase 3 location in Illinois. It was located in the Hawthorn Hills Square Shopping Center.

History

700 N Milwaukee Ave opened on April 8, 2004 with the Phase 3 remodel and a Studio C Beta stage. For most of the location’s life, barely anything would be changed. A few things would occur, however, that being the removal of the dim lighting and a few of the posters, and Chuck’s attire being changed to his Avenger attire. At some point after the introduction of Rockstar Chuck, the bot’s cap would be removed and his Avenger shorts would be replaced with the Rockstar pants. Though his Avenger shirt would be kept. In September 2019, the location would receive its first and only remodel. That being the CEC 2.0 Remodel Program , which resulted in the Studio C Beta stage being removed. The fate of the bot remains unknown. After the remodel, the store would remain open for a few more months until June 2020, where the store would permanently close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Post-Closure

The building would remain vacant for a while until Liquor Barn moved in. The interior would be gutted, the exterior would be repainted and the doors would be replaced with automatic doors, thus leaving no remnants from Chuck E. Cheese’s behind. As of July 2025, Liquor Barn is still in the space to this day.

Arcade Machines

Identified Machines

TODO

Stage

The store opened on April 8, 2004 with a Studio C Beta stage, which would be kept until the location received the 2.0 remodel in September 2019.

Stage Installed Removed

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Studio C Beta April 2004 September 2019

Animatronic

Character Serial Status

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Chuck E. Cheese 16m (Animatronic) N/A Unknown.

Videos

Link Description Date Filmed Date Published

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Link Their bot performing Out of this World. Sept 8, 2019 Oct 8, 2020 Link Their bot performing Play All you can Play. Sept 8, 2019 Oct 11, 2020 Link Their bot performing My Family. Sept 8, 2019 Oct 5, 2020 Link Their bot performing Chuck E.’s Place. May (Unknown Day and Year) Dec 2, 2017 Link A tour of the store. Unknown Dec 2, 2018 Link A tour of the store. Unknown Sept 6, 2018 Link Video of the location after closure. Unknown Aug 9, 2020