Where can children be… Adults?

The well-known animatronic restaurant chain, Chuck E. Cheese, has launched a new spin-off named “Chuck’s Arcade,” designed for adults as a “modern love letter” to its fans and older customers.

This adult arcade features classic games like Galaga, alongside some more intense titles that were once popular with kids, such as Mortal Combat and others. There’s a press release about this if you’re interested.

So far, ten locations have opened in malls across the U.S., including states like New York, Connecticut, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, New Hampshire, and Missouri. The New York venue is situated in Victor, which is roughly 22 miles southeast of Rochester.

Each arcade is “guided” by animatronic characters from the company’s roster, ranging from lesser-known figures from the now-defunct Munch’s Make Believe Band to Chuck E. Cheese himself.

The adult arcade also boasts a prize counter offering nostalgic merchandise for those who win big, in addition to the usual candy selection. There’s food service too, including alcoholic beverages aimed at the adult crowd.

David McKillips, the CEO of Chuck E. Cheese, suggested that this expansion was a “natural evolution” following a significant remodeling of all 500 locations globally.

“Chuck E. Cheese has excelled in the arcade experience for decades; it’s truly part of who we are,” McKillips noted.

Interestingly, five years prior, Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company had filed for bankruptcy as it struggled to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it invested $350 million in renovations and introduced a new pricing model aimed at families with smaller budgets.

In 2023, the company was even considering auctioning options with investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, potentially worth up to $1 billion.