Chuck E. Sir marks the end of an era.
The beloved chain of children’s playhouses previously announced the closure of almost all of its iconic animatronic bands that grace the stages of the establishment’s restaurants. Now as a “gesture of love” to fans upset by the news, Chuck E. Cheese will keep Munch’s Make Believe Band at a few select locations, PEOPLE confirms.
The musical group consists of Chuck E. as frontman, Jasper T. Jowls as guitarist, Helen Henny as vocalist, Pasqually as drummer and Mr. Munch on the keyboard.
At the beginning of May, The New York Times reported that Munch’s Make Believe Band would be pulled from all but two of its 400 U.S. locations. Several fans were upset to hear the news, including X user Kelsey Nicole Nelson, who wrote, “Nooooo not the Chuck E. Cheese band!! I remember watching in weird awe lol Kids today are missing out!!”
In response to the outcry, a spokesperson for Chuck E. Cheese’s tells PEOPLE that the five animatronics will now remain at locations across the country.
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Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band.
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Robotic contractors will remain intact in Pineville, NC, as well as in Hicksville, NY. The Pineville location will even feature an exclusive collection of Chuck E. Cheese memorabilia, according to a representative.
Fans of the lovable rat in the Midwest will also continue to enjoy a full band — the Springfield, Ill., location will continue to showcase the characters on stage.
Two additional bands will remain in Northridge, California, and Nanuet, NY, but while the former will feature the full band, the latter will feature only the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic.
“The adoration of the Chuck E. Cheese brand continues to captivate kids and adults alike, so it feels great to give fans a little bit of our history,” the company’s director of insights and marketing, Mark Kupferman, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “We’re seeing increasing demand for our products, new entertainment and our character, so you’ll continue to see Chuck E. Cheese in new formats and in new ways outside of our entertainment centers.”
Most of the locations that will no longer feature the band will get “multiple screens, digital dance floors and trampoline gyms,” according to NYT.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education