The pizza industry has seen hundreds of store closures over the past two years, with major chains restructuring by shutting down underperforming outlets.
Yum! Brands, parent of Pizza Hut, confirmed it will close 250 struggling locations by the first half of 2026 as part of its "Hut Forward" turnaround strategy. Papa John's also announced on its fourth-quarter earnings call that it would close 200 stores by the end of 2026.
Now, CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese, is declining to renew leases at locations that are no longer economically viable. CEC Entertainment has already closed at least six Chuck E. Cheese stores in 2026.
Six Chuck E. Cheese Locations Closed
The popular pizza-and-arcade chain has seen six stores shut down in 2026 due to expiring leases. The Airport Highway location in the Swan Creek Shopping Center in Toledo, Ohio, closed at the end of August 2026 when its lease expired.
CEC Entertainment did not specify reasons for not renewing the lease or issue a public statement about the closure. However, the Chuck E. Cheese on Monroe Street in Toledo remains open. Both the Airport Highway and Monroe Street locations first opened in 1993. The landlord has yet to announce a new tenant for the vacated space.
Final Nebraska Location Shutters
Two months before the Toledo closure, the chain had already closed its last remaining store in Nebraska. The location on North 76th Street in Omaha permanently shut its doors on July 2.
On April 5, 2026, the store on Wanamaker Road in Topeka, Kansas, also closed for good, marking the final Chuck E. Cheese in that city. This location had been operating since 1990.
In the official closure announcement, the company stated: "Saying goodbye is never easy. For decades, we've been grateful to every family, every birthday child, and every guest who walked through our doors. We know this news will disappoint many longtime customers, and we sincerely thank you for your continued support."
"Although we're temporarily leaving Topeka, that doesn't mean we won't be back. This city has been with the brand almost since its very beginning, and we look forward to returning one day." Chuck E. Cheese first opened a store in Topeka on West 29th Street back in 1979, but that location had already closed, leaving the city with no presence of the brand.
The announcement concluded: "Thank you for being part of Topeka's brand story, a memory spanning generations. We will always cherish the joyful moments you shared with us here."
Three Stores Closed in One Day on April 4
According to local media reports, CEC Entertainment shut down three locations on April 4, 2026, in a single day, including a store in Olathe, Kansas.
A notice posted at the closed location read: "We understand this news may affect you. Please visit our nearest location in Overland Park, Kansas." CEC Entertainment spokesperson Allie Schwarten told The Star: "As leases expire, markets evolve, and consumer preferences change, we adjust our real estate strategy accordingly."
The company still operates three nearby locations: 9196 North Skyview Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri; 10510 Metcalf Lane in Overland Park, Kansas; and 18701 East 39th Street in Independence, Missouri.
Also closed on April 4 were the Buffalo Gap Road location in Abilene, Texas, and the North Salisbury Boulevard store in Salisbury, Maryland. CEC Senior Director Alejandra Brady stated publicly: "This is simply how we manage our nationwide network spanning 45 states. It does not reflect any financial or operational crisis at the company."
Recovery After a Period of Crisis
Chuck E. Cheese currently operates more than 500 locations across 45 U.S. states. When COVID-19 swept the nation in March 2020, all stores were forced to shut down, and the company filed for bankruptcy protection that June. The pizza-and-arcade chain, which opened its first location in San Jose, California, in 1977, completed a debt restructuring, invested $350 million to renovate its stores, and updated its menu.
This year, the company also launched a new adult-oriented spin-off brand, Chuck's Arcade, aimed at attracting consumers who grew up eating pizza and playing arcade games there.
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