Chuck E. Cheese’s seeks to expand
| Tuesday, Mar 24 2009 04:56 PM
Last Updated Monday, Mar 30 2009 04:23 PM
Chuck E. Cheese’s has applied for a permit to add about 3,000 square feet to its 12,023-square-foot store at 3760 Ming Ave.
Chuck E. Cheese’s is owned by CEC Entertainment, Inc., which is based in Irving, Texas. CEC spokeswoman Brenda Holloway confirmed the expansion plans, but said there is no firm timeline for construction.
If the project is approved, the restaurant will hire additional employees, Holloway said, but she didn’t know how many.
The expansion would displace Grand China Restaurant, a family-owned, independent restaurant in the adjacent space in the strip mall the two eateries share. The restaurant has been in the same location since 1988.
Owners Julia and Taisheng Meng have put a petition at the checkout counter asking customers to support their efforts to avoid having to move.
The restaurant was notified in November that it would not be granted a long-term lease because its location is needed for Chuck E. Cheese’s expansion.
Julia Meng said she didn’t know what her deadline was for vacating. She also said the restaurant can’t afford to relocate without a bank loan, and financing is hard to get in the credit crunch, so they will be forced to close without a reprieve.
So far the petition has nearly 1,000 signatures, and the Mengs plan to mail it to Chuck E. Cheese’s corporate headquarters.
Longtime customer Cory Guill, 27, of Oildale, was among those who signed.
“A big corporation like Chuck E. Cheese’s can afford to move to a bigger location,” he said while eating his usual, kung pao chicken. “Why do they have to put a small, locally owned mom-and-pop out of business to expand?”
Ray Karpe, president of property manager Karpe Real Estate Center, said there is no choice.
“It’s unfortunate, but there’s nowhere else to expand,” he said. “They’re on the corner so if they went east, they’d be out in the street. We owe it to the owner of the property to find the highest and best use of the property.”
The shopping center is owned by Bakersfield-based Ming Center Investment Co., an affiliate of Karpe Real Estate Center.
