A Bit of Happy Nostalgia Returns to Amarillo Restaurant

It wasn't all that long ago that news came out that the Chuck E Cheese animatronics at most of the restaurants were going away which meant Amarillo was in danger. It was a sad day for anyone who grew up at a Chuck E Cheese. The word was that a few locations would keep them. One location keeping theirs was one of the first Chuck E Cheese's in Northridge, California.

I remember the animatronics in the one here in Amarillo. My daughter had several birthday parties at the Amarillo store back in the early 2000s. Like most kids, she loved Chuck E Cheese and wanted to watch the band on stage perform. She also knew that Chuck E Cheese would also come out and dance with the kids. It was a magical time.

It was a time we wanted to share with my granddaughter. She had her second birthday at a Chuck E Cheese location in Dallas. That is when I first discovered the animatronics were gone. In it's place a digital screen on the ground that the kids could dance on. OK, neat. I guess.

When my granddaughter came back to Amarillo I decided to take her to the Chuck E Cheese here in town. I heard the animatronics were still in the restaurant. Oh, and they were. They just didn't work. Every once in a while Chuck E Cheese would move a little and blink his eyes. No, though, they didn't work.

I had many conversations with the staff about how sad that was. The animatronics were a bit of nostalgia, which we all need here in Amarillo. So imagine my surprise when I decided to have a Mimi-Laila date at Chuck E Cheese late Sunday evening.

There Are A Couple of Great Changes to Chuck E Cheese in Amarillo

The first change that I noticed was that the little toddler section at our local Chuck E Cheese now has a jump zone. A really cool trampoline for the littles. It is free the only thing is you need to buy a special pair of socks. Don't lose them and you have them for every return.

The sad part is the little train that my grandaughter loved to ride was gone. I think though the trampoline is a great addition and probably worth the loss of the train.

The Other Big Change to Amarillo's Chuck E Cheese

The other thing that made me and other parents at the Amarillo location happy was the animatronics. I don't know who made the decision or how it came to be but they are working again. Which is exciting. I don't know why you wouldn't want to get them working again.

I mean they were there. They were working in the past. I am sure the cost was crazy to get parts and repairs but this is something that made parents who grew up at this location happy. A bit of happy nostalgia.

So if you are looking for some simple times back in your life head to Amarillo's Chuck E Cheese. That will put a smile back on your face.