Chuck E. Cheese's Has Filed for Bankruptcy
COVID-19 has turned 2020 upside down, making unforeseen trouble for businesses big and small, nationwide. I’ve seen small businesses in my city close their doors, while some got creative during the most shut down times, selling food and ingredients curbside, and running specials that were appealing to customers. The same has been true for big businesses like theater chains, non-grocery retail stores, and restaurants. Some flourished, while many who were not doing well before the pandemic have had to face a permanent closure.
The popular children’s restaurant and play place Chuck E. Cheese is one of the places that has not survived the hit. Parent company CEC Entertainment Inc. has announced that is has filed for bankruptcy after 43 years of business. The company has reopened 266 Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza locations in states where restrictions have eased, and the CEC says they will continue to offer takeout options at “some of its 734 restaurants in 47 states and 16 countries while they negotiate their debts and leases.”
But as things stand, even if the restaurants opened today, most people are not looking to host birthday parties and big family outings right now, and won’t be for quite a while. This is a big hit for a place that bases the bulk of its income on people coming in and staying awhile to eat and play. Even before this all began, I looked at Chuck E. Cheese as ground zero for bacteria and germs and all things gross children. So I don’t know what their future looks like, but I don’t think it looks good. It’s too bad, because my kids love these places, and we have fond memories looking back. But everything looks a little different moving forward.
Will you miss Chuck E. Cheese if it closes its doors for good?
via: Variety
