Despite filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, CEC Entertainment, the Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Pipe Pizza chain, is continuing to re-open locations as the pandemic lockdown eases across the United States.

Chuck E Cheese

Despite filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, CEC Entertainment, the Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Pipe Pizza chain, is continuing to reopen locations as the pandemic lockdown eases across the United States.

The group filed for protection from its creditors on June 24, but in a new statement to shareholders, CEO David McKillips was upbeat, reports the US trade magazine RePlay. “We are planning to continue reopening more of our restaurants and arcades as governmental restrictions are lifted,” he said.

The company that was founded by Atari’s Nolan Bushnell, has over 600 Chuck E. Cheese locations in 47 states of the US and 128 Peter Pan. It also operates in 15 foreign countries.

The company, suffering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, had signalled the close of a number of its less-well-performing locations prior to its slipping into Chapter XI.

McKillips added: “During our first Chapter 11 hearing, the court granted us authority to, among other things, pay employees and continue existing benefits programmes, honour guest deposits, gift cards and other rewards programme and continue operating our business in the ordinary course.”