Chuck E. Cheese parent company CEC Entertainment confirmed the closure of an east coast location next month, and the closure sparked speculation other locations may get axed. But the company tells USA TODAY that’s not expected.
The Chuck E. Cheese location in Salisbury, Maryland, will be closing its doors by April 4, when the lease expires, a spokesperson for CEC Entertainment said in a March 10 statement.
According to the company’s website, there will be 10 Maryland locations left after the closure. The company operates nearly 600 Chuck E. Cheese or other CEC Entertainment branded locations across the country and in 17 foreign countries and territories. Most domestic locations are in California and Texas, where the company is headquartered.
Company says it’s expecting more openings than closures
CEC Entertainment said the Salisbury closure is “a routine lease expiration,” and that “Chuck E. Cheese has opened and closed locations every year for the past four decades.”
The company added that leases expire, markets evolve, and there are shifts in what customers want, so Chuck E. Cheese adjusts its real estate portfolio.
“This is how we manage a national footprint across 45 states and should not be interpreted as an indication of financial or operational distress,” the company said on March 10, adding that Chuck E. Cheese closed its Fargo, North Dakota, location a few years ago and plans to open a new one this year.
Looking ahead to the rest of the year, they anticipate opening more locations than they close, most of which will be new active play “Adventure World” locations, which represents Chuck E. Cheese’s “continued brand innovation and a significant commitment to enhancing the experience for our families across the country.”
USA TODAY has asked Chuck E. Cheese for more information on anticipated openings and routine closures.
Redditors predict Chuck E. Cheese closures
Back in December, Redditors made predictions about the fate of Chuck E. Cheese locations, including speculation that some locations will either be closed or relocated.
Although a month early, Redditor LoquatOk7971 correctly guessed that the Salisbury location, about 30 miles west of Ocean City, would close for good.
USA TODAY asked Chuck E. Cheese about other possible routine closures but has not immediately heard back.
What is Adventure World at Chuck E. Cheese?
CEC Entertainment said this week that many new Chuck E. Cheese locations will be opened under the company’s new Adventure World format, which is geared towards families with kids ages 3 to 8.
The company opened its first Adventure World location on Thursday, Nov. 13, in Arlington, Texas, per a news release.
Adventure World locations differ from the traditional Chuck E. Cheese. Instead of focusing on arcade games, pizza and prizes, Adventure World is centered more on active play and imagination, the company said. There are no height restrictions, so adults can explore multiple-story play structures with their kids. There are also toddler zones, interactive dance floors, slides, a mini soccer court and obstacles.
According to CEC Entertainment, the characters families are familiar with will still be there, but via a digital live show, and the company will still serve the pizza it’s known for.
Store closures follow post-pandemic rebuild
CEC Entertainment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. The company closed 45 locations that year, including 11 that closed before the COVID-19 pandemic began. In 2019, the company reported losing $29 million, a court filing stated, and in 2020, CEC Entertainment lost more than 90% of its revenue, despite offering delivery and takeout food, USA TODAY previously reported.
The company returned to pre-COVID revenue in 2023, a spokesperson previously told USA TODAY.
In 2024 CEC Entertainment launched Fun Spot Arcade but a year later the company rebranded the retro-style arcade concept to Chuck’s Arcade. At the time a company spokesperson credited the company’s rebound to the remodeling of more than 475 Chuck E. Cheese locations nationwide.
Contributing: Greta Cross
Saleen Martin and James Powel are reporters on USA TODAY’s trending team. Email them at sdmartin@usatoday.com and jpowel@gannett.com.