Cincinnati, OH (8801 Colerain Ave)

Cincinnati, OH (8801 Colerain Ave) was a Chuck E. Cheese’s location that opened on November 11, 1981^[1], as a ShowBiz Pizza Place with a Classic Stage, and closed as a Chuck E. Cheese’s with a Concept Unification Stage on September 22, 2019.

History

The Colerain Ave ShowBiz Pizza Place opened up on November 11, 1981, opening in front of the former Gold Circle Mall ^[24] as the 2nd ShowBiz Pizza Store in Ohio. The store featured ‘The Show Room, Sports Room, 60 Arcade games, a merry-go-round, and ‘a magic cave’.’ Colerain had unique showroom walls, which, unlike normal stores, had an entrance in the middle of the wall. In 1982, part of the support for the Bengals getting into Super Bowl XVI, ShowBiz Pizza ran a promotion at Colerain and Sharonville, OH (1429 E Kemper Rd). 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’. ^[6]

They would receive Klunk in 1983 as part of The Amazing Uncle Klunk Traveling Show (Event).^[2] They would also retain Klunk retrofitting him into Santa as part of Santa On Stage Show 1983 (Event).^[3]

In 1985, two events were held at the ShowBiz Pizza Place, one being the Greater Cincinnati Youth for Christ hosted a social on March 31st and June 16th from 8-11pm. The event was titled ‘Night Light’, which featured a Pizza Buffet, Live Music from the Willoughby-Wilson Band. ^[7][8]The other event hosted was a ‘Teen Dance’ event, which was a charity event to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which would take place on July 12th.^[9] By 1987, ShowBiz Pizza Place and Pizza Time Theatre had merged, with the ads beginning to reflect that. Since by that point every other SPP and PTT in the area had closed, only Colerain and Florence, KY (7635 Mall Rd) would be the only stores to show on these ads.^[10] In the late 1980s, the Rock Afire Explosion would receive the ShowBiz Pizza Campground. In 1989, the ShowBiz Pizza Place sign was removed, with the Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza sign being installed in its place. Colerain would receive the SPT 1980's Remodel Program around the same time. This would remove the last remains of the ShowBiz Pizza Place branding. ^[11]

1990’s

Beginning in mid-1990, Cincinnati, OH (4394 Eastgate Square Dr) had begun showing up in advertisements in the area following its June 1990 opening. ^[12] On April 28th, 1991 the Rock Afire Explosion would undergo Concept Unification turning the show into Concept Unification Stage, which completed in May.^[4] Then in late 1991 the ShowBiz Pizza sign would be removed and replaced with a brand new ‘Chuck E. Cheese’s sign’^[11] on July 11th 1991 (11am-7pm) Chuck E. Cheese’s would hold an open house for Assistant Restaurant Managers. Where you would visit and Dana Buck (Regional Recruiter) would tell all about the ’excellent starting salary along with a Great Quality of Life!‘^[14] In late 1992 Sharonville, OH (1429 E Kemper Rd) began to re-appear on advertisements as the store re-opened as a Chuck E. Cheese’s after closing in 1984 as a ShowBiz Pizza Place. Along with that Louisville, KY (5743 Preston Hwy) would begin showing up on the advertisements despite not being nearby to other locations on said advertisements. The store was removed in November 1997 after closing.^[15] On July 20, 1993, an ‘Informational Open House’ was held by ‘Chuck E. Cheese’s/ShowBiz’ to tell restaurant managements the facts about their growth in 1993 and their ’livable’ schedules. This event would also have ‘Paul Scappechi, Regional V.P. and Dan High, District Manager’ to visit It is interesting to note they both misspell Colerain as ‘Collerain’ and Chuck E. Cheese’s as ‘Chuch E. Cheese’^[16] Colerain would receive the SPT 1990's Remodel Program in 1992 at around the same time that Sharonville would open up. In the showroom, Colerain featured ‘Silver Awards’ which were, for the most part, only installed in brand new 1992 stores. In the late 1990s, Munch Jr would be removed from the 3-Stage with photos from the early 90s showing him fairly worn out.

In 1996 they would receive Phase 1 (1994) while also installing the standard Skytubes, New Game Package, and Kid Check the store would also receive new artwork such as the magazines and sports fixtures but also a new exterior replacing the ‘Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza’ one from 1990 with the new Star Chuck exterior sign and removing the ‘Pizza’ text from the exterior. Between 1997 - 1999, they would then receive Phase 2 (1997). This would involve the redesigned prize counter and a new game package.

2000’s

All Latex masks would be replaced with plastic masks by Winter 2002. In 2002, Chuck E.’s Tuxedo was replaced with Cool Chuck, and Pizzacam would be removed from stage left, being used for parts as late as 2005. In 2003, the base that the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic ‘stood’ on was removed. The following year (2004) would see more removals of effects and older latex cosmetics. In late 2004, the CEC Neon sign was removed after the ‘Cheese’ section was destroyed. The left hand of Pasqually was also replaced, leaving the right-hand latex. In 2005, the other hand would be replaced with plastic. Curtains were also disabled company-wide. In December 2005, Helen would have her original plastic mask replaced.

Between 2001 - 2002, they would receive Phase 3 (2000) with the Toddler Zone installed near the right side of the restaurant by the Show Room Walls.^[17] They’d also receive two new pieces of art. That being Big City (2001 Postcard), which was installed on the left wall of the Salad Bar ^[18], and Toddler Zone Sandbox (CEC Décor), which was installed next to the new Toddler Zone. ^[19] In 2006, the store would receive a minor update, which would involve replacing all the booths in the showroom with the new CEC 2000's Remodel Program booths. They would, around the same time, install a single Red CEC Tickets (CEC Décor) near the entrance on the left wall.

2006 would mark more removals of effects and props, with the original latex feet of Chuck being replaced. The original TV Light and Shell were removed with the replacement of the ‘Pioneer’ projection TV. The original plastic mask for Chuck E. Cheese would also be replaced. The original Rock Afire guitar would also be replaced by the ‘Cheese Guitar’ the same year, along with Jasper’s mask. Two years after the curtains were disabled (2005), they would be removed across all three stages. With the removal of curtains, Pizzacams’ box was relocated from the tech room to be used as a barrier for Moon and Building. The front piece was installed by Moon, and the left panel was installed by Building. Pasqually would also receive a new mask in 2008. In 2009, the original plastic mask for Chuck E. Cheese was reinstalled before being replaced again with the 2006 mask a few months later. At the same time, Helen and Munch would receive new masks. In 2011, Chuck E. Cheese saw the removal of the Cool Chuck outfit for the newer Avenger outfit. In 2012, Helen would again receive a brand new mask. In 2013, the Munch’s Make Believe Sign was removed.

During Summer 2009, the store would receive the CEC 2000's Remodel Program. During the remodel, they’d receive a new game package and expand the store from 10,200 sq ft to 10,406 sq ft.^[20][21]

2010’s

In Winter 2014, the store would receive another Game Package, replacing/removing several older games such as Tower of Power and Chuck E. Cheese’s Photo Ride (1997). The Photo Ride was replaced with Chuck E. Cheese’s Photo Ride (2014). In April 2016, the Skytubes were removed. At the same time, Colerain would receive a Game Package, and select older games would be sent to other stores in the district or ShowBiz Pizza Time Distribution Center (Topeka, KS)

In October 2016, Helen’s Latex Legs were replaced with the fabric variant. In December 2016, the store would receive Play Pass. The Toddler Zone fence was removed in late 2017.

In 2017, Chuck E. Cheese received a new mask, although with no teeth. December 2017 marked the end of the Moon as it was thrown out and destroyed. Helen would receive a new mask in Summer 2018 with the Buildings mask and lift removed, but the base of the mech would remain. At the same time that the CRT TV was removed from stage right, with a replacement flat screen installed in Fall 2018. In Fall 2018, the condition of the stage would improve significantly. Colerain would receive another Game Package in August 2018.

Closure

On September 22, 2019, Colerain would close after 38 years due to the owner of the property increasing rent on the lease, and CEC Entertainment no longer seeing reason to keep the store open. After closing, some pieces of art were sent to Cincinnati, OH (4394 Eastgate Square Dr). The posters sent over were 'Grand Marshal of Games' (CEC Décor), 'Ambassador of Fun' (CEC Décor), and two Red CEC Tickets (CEC Décor). Along with several showroom chairs, the Kid Check stand, and Parts of arcade games such as ‘Simpson Soccer’ and ‘Pop It for Gold’. The Parts computer was sent to Lima, OH (2809 Elida Rd), Various show parts and the ended up being sent to Springfield, OH (2345 Valley Loop Rd) along with all of the showroom booths being sent to replace the original Black and Green booths from the SPT 1990's Remodel Program. 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, and The menus would end up at Sharonville, OH (1429 E Kemper Rd). The unused roll of carpet, ‘Good Behavior Guideline’ sign, and Menus would be thrown out two weeks after arriving due to Sharonville, OH (1429 E Kemper Rd) receiving 2.0. Games were split between the Dumpster, Storage, and other stores in the area. Parts of the show would be sent to Springfield, OH (2345 Valley Loop Rd), such as the Avenger Outfit, Jasper’s Bin, and parts of Pasqually’s Drums (Although never used) ^[5]

Between October and November 2024, Colerain would receive minor “renovations” in the interior. This would involve ripping up the CEC Passion carpet (excluding the stage), and removing the showroom chair, table, and the water bottle that had been sitting there since September 2019 ^[22]. During the Colerain Township Trustees Meeting of July 22, 2025, the Joseph Toyota Manager stated plans to turn the property into a ‘…different Toyota entity, a pretty modern state-of-the-art certified collision center’. This will relocate from the current Joseph Toyota Collision Center at 8733 Colerain Ave, located behind the former Chuck E. Cheese ^[23].

Animatronics