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Kansas City, MO (2726 NE Vivion Rd)

2726 NE Vivion Rd, Store #82(1) was a Chuck E. Cheese's that opened as the first ShowBiz Pizza Place on March 2nd, 1980https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/spp/spp_memos_80.pdf(2), and closed in Spring 2007 as a Chuck E. Cheese's with a 3-Stage. It is commonly referred to by fans as 'Antioch.' This location is not to be confused with the current location, which opened on August 4, 2008 and is still open today with the 2.0 remodel.

History

The store would post job listings during February & March 1980. Kansas City (Antioch) opened in the Antioch Shopping Center on March 2nd, 1980 with a Wolf Pack 5 show. Differences to the WP5 show were made for the store, such as the use of the SPP logo on Dingo's Drum front, & changing Queenie to Mini Mozzarella. In April 1980, ShowBiz corporate wanted to replace the Wolf Pack 5 show or possibly have Billy Bob on Stage but Creative Engineering declined(0). In 1981, the Wolf Pack 5 Show was shipped to the Orlando, FL (47 W Jefferson St) and was replaced with the Rock-afire Explosion. The Store received the 1988 Remodel in the late '80s, which involved removing and replacing the artwork, renaming the restaurant to ShowBiz Pizza, added checkers inside and outside the store, and receiving the Showbiz Pizza Campground Upgrade. In 1991/1992, Kansas City received Concept Unification, keeping the 1988 remodel, renaming the restaurant to Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza, replacing ShowBiz decor for CEC decor, and retrofitting the Rock-afire Explosion into Munch's Make Believe Band. In the early 90s, the store got the SPT 1992 Remodel. The store later received Phase 1 (1994) as well, which added the 'Chuck E. Cheese's' - Letters / Thumb Logo (Star Cap) (SPT Exterior Signage)|'Cool Chuck' Star Cap Exterior logo, new decor, and new merchandise. The store possibly received Phase 2 (1997) in 1997. Their show would receive plastic masks in the late 90s and early 2000s. Kansas City would close in Spring 2007 for unknown reasons, but likely that Antioch Center, the mall it was in, was entirely abandoned, and Chuck E. Cheese's was the only thing that was left. The location was left abandoned along with the rest of the mall for 5 years until it was demolished beginning in January 2012. As of June 2023, a different shopping center takes its place.

Stages

Originally when the store first opened as a Showbiz Pizza Place, they had the Wolf Pack 5, later, the Rock-afire Classic Stage. When they got Concept Unification, they kept the stage. It remained at the location until the Spring 2007 closure.
Stage Installed Removed
Wolf Pack 5(0)(3)(4) March 1980 1981
Wolfman Disco Room? March 1980? 1981?
The Rock-afire Explosion 1981 1991/1992
3-Stage(5) 1991/1992 Spring 2007

Animatronics

Name Produced Installed Serial Number Removed Whereabouts Notes
The Wolfman (Animatronic)(0) 1979? March 1980 1981 Sent back to the Orlando, FL (47 W Jefferson St) In 1981. Currently being moved to the Creative Engineering Museum. Possibly from the 1979 IAAPA Show.
Fats Gorilla (Animatronic)(0) 1979? March 1980 1981 Sent back to the Orlando, FL (47 W Jefferson St) In 1981. Currently being moved to the Creative Engineering Museum. Possibly from the 1979 IAAPA Show.
Dingo Starr (Animatronic)(0) 1979? March 1980 1981 Sent back to the Orlando, FL (47 W Jefferson St) In 1981. Currently being moved to the Creative Engineering Museum. Possibly from the 1979 IAAPA Show.
Beach Bear (Wolf Pack 5 Animatronic)(0) 1979? March 1980 1981 Sent back to the Orlando, FL (47 W Jefferson St) In 1981. Currently being moved to the Creative Engineering Museum. Possibly from the 1979 IAAPA Show.
Mini Mozzarella (Animatronic)(0) 1979? March 1980 1981 Sent back to the Orlando, FL (47 W Jefferson St) In 1981. retrofitted back to Little Queenie during the mid 2010's. Currently being moved to the Creative Engineering Museum. Possibly from the 1979 IAAPA Show.
The Wolfman (Animatronic)? ??? March 1980? 1981? Possibly used in the possible Wolfman Disco Room. Unknown Whereabouts.
Rolfe Dewolfe & Earl Schmerle (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 2007 Removed In 2007. Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992. received Plastic Mask in the late 90's / Early 2000's.
Dook Larue (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 2007 Removed In 2007. Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992. received Plastic Mask in the late 90's / Early 2000's.
Fatz Geronimo (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 2007 Removed In 2007. Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992. received Plastic Mask in the late 90's / Early 2000's.
Beach Bear (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 2007 Removed In 2007. Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992. received Plastic Mask in the late 90's / Early 2000's.
Mitzi Mozzarella (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 2007 Removed In 2007. Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992. received Plastic Mask in the late 90's / Early 2000's.
Sun (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 Unknown Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992.
Moon (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 Unknown Unknown Whereabouts.
Choo Choo (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 Unknown Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992.
Antioch (Animatronic)|Antioch (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 1991/1992 Turned into the Wink Retrofitted in 1991/1992.
Wink (Animatronic) 1990's 1991/1992 2007 Removed In 2007. Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992.
Billy Bob (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 1991/1992 Unknown Whereabouts.
Looney Bird (Animatronic) 1980/1981 1981 2007 Removed In 2007. Unknown Whereabouts. Retrofitted in 1991/1992.

Mascot Costumes

Head Outfits & Suits Accessories Whereabouts
Billy Bob Kansas City Walkaround Billy Bob Kansas City Walkaround Unknown
Chuck 1998 (Costume Head) Unknown

Videos

Link Description Recorded
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsVA1GIrXU8 Footage of The entire Wolf Pack 5 ShowBiz Tape. 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kc_K_tEvyY Footage of the Fats & Dingo Animatronics, along with some possible arcade shots. 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Xj8huC7BA Footage of The 3-Stage. May 8th, 1997

References

  1. https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/cec/cec_focus-2005-12.pdf
  2. https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/articles/spp/spp_80kansascity.pdf
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsVA1GIrXU8
  4. https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/promo/spp/spp_80franchise-wp5.pdf
  5. https://www.showbizpizza.com/photos/cec/mo_antioch/03.jpg

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