Chuck E. Cheese Is Getting Rid of the Animatronic Band at All But These 5 Locations
Munch’s Make-Believe Band will remain at select locations after upset from fans.
Chuck E. Cheese is marking the end of an era.
The beloved children’s play chain previously announced the closure of almost all of their iconic animatronic bands, which grace the stages of the establishment’s eating areas. Now in a "gesture of love" to fans who were upset by the news, Chuck E. Cheese will keep Munch’s Make Believe Band at a few selection locations, PEOPLE confirms.
The musical group features Chuck E. as the frontman, Jasper T. Jowls as the guitarist, Helen Henny as a vocalist, Pasqually as the drummer and Mr. Munch on the keyboard.
In early May, the New York Times reported that Munch’s Make Believe Band would be phased out from all but two of the 400 U.S. locations. Several fans were upset to find out the news, including X user Kelsey Nicole Nelson, who wrote, “Nooooo not the Chuck E. Cheese band!! I remember watching in a weird awe lol Kids today are missing out!!”
In response to the outcry, a Chuck E. Cheese spokesperson tells PEOPLE that five animatronics will now remain at locations around the country.
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The robotic performers will stay intact in Pineville, N.C., and also in Hicksville, N.Y. The Pineville location will even house an exclusive collection of Chuck E. Cheese memorabilia, per the representative.
Fans of the lovable rat in the Midwest will also continue to enjoy the full band — a Springfield, Ill. location will continue to showcase the characters on stage.
Two additional bands will remain both in Northridge, Calif., and Nanuet, N.Y. but while the former will feature the entire band, the latter will only display an animatronic Chuck E. Cheese.
“The adoration of the Chuck E. Cheese brand continues to captivate kids and adults, so it felt great to give fans a bit of our history," said the company's Chief Insights and Marketing Officer, Mark Kupferman, in a statement to PEOPLE. "We are seeing more demand for our products, new entertainment, and our character so you will continue to see Chuck E. Cheese show up in new formats and new ways outside of our fun centers.”
The majority of locations that will no longer feature a band will instead get "more screens, digital dance floors and trampoline gyms," according to NYT.
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