The eatertainnment chain Chuck E. Cheese is turning a subscription plan to bring back inflation-weary customers. The company is offering a Fun Pass that gives families unlimited visits year-round to all of its 450-plus locations.
The pass comes in three membership tiers ranging from $7.99 a month, which allows 40 games per visit and a 20% discount on food and drinks, to $29.99 a month for 250 games per visit and a 50% discount.
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“This is the biggest, best deal Chuck E. Cheese has ever offered,” Chuck E. Cheese Executive Vice President Mark Kpuferman said in a statement. “We understand families are struggling to find affordable entertainment options outside the home right now.”
Kupferman cited rising costs as a reason for the need for a membership plan. He said it is a way to make Chuck E. Cheese more affordable for families.
This is not the first time a restaurant chain has offered a membership program. Panera Bread, Sweetgreen and P.F. Chang’s all implemented subscription plans in the past. And remember Olive Garden’s lifetime pasta pass?
As other chains like Red Lobster and Buca di Beppo have filed for bankruptcy this year. Chuck E. Cheese — which already emerged from bankruptcy four years ago — looks to avoid that same fate, hoping the membership route brings in the parents and kids. If not, it could go with Auntie Anne’s Pretzels’ plan to attract customers: creating a perfume.
[JACK AYLMER]
FAST CASUAL EATERIES COMPETING WITH FAST FOOD PLACES ON VALUE MEALS — A CEO SWITCHING BRANDS –– AND AN EARLY START TO PUMPKIN SPICE SEASON – THESE ARE SOME OF THE STORIES STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS HAS BROUGHT YOU IN RECENT DAYS ABOUT THE MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS RESTAURANTS ARE CRAFTING TO BRING BACK INFLATION-WEARY CUSTOMERS.
AND NOW ONE COMPANY IS TURNING TO ANOTHER OPTION – A SUBSCRIPTION PLAN. THAT COMPANY? CHUCK E. CHEESE.
THE “EATER-TAINMENT” CHAIN IS OFFERING A FUN PASS THAT GIVES FAMILIES UNLIMITED VISITS YEAR-ROUND TO ALL ITS 450 PLUS LOCATIONS.
THE PASS COMES IN THREE MEMBERSHIP TIERS – RANGING FROM 8 DOLLARS A MONTH WHICH ALLOWS 40 GAMES PER VISIT AND A 20 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON FOOD AND DRINKS TO 30 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR 250 GAMES PER VISIT AND A 50 PERCENT DISCOUNT.
CHUCK E. CHEESE’S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MARK KUPFERMAN SAYING IN A STATEMENT —
“This is the biggest, best deal Chuck E. Cheese has ever offered. We understand families are struggling to find affordable entertainment options outside the home right now.”
KUPFERMAN CITED RISING COSTS AS A REASON FOR THE NEED FOR A MEMBERSHIP PLAN – SAYING IT’S A WAY TO MAKE CHUCK E. CHEESE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES.
AND CHUCK E. CHEESE IS NOT THE FIRST RESTAURANT CHAIN TO OFFER A MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM.
PANERA BREAD, SWEETGREEN, AND P.F. CHANG’S ARE AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SUBSCRIPTION PLANS IN THE PAST. AND REMEMBER OLIVE GARDEN’S LIFETIME PASTA PASS?
AS OTHER CHAINS LIKE RED LOBSTER AND BUCA DI BEPPO FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY THIS YEAR – CHUCK E CHEESE – WHICH ALREADY EMERGED FROM BANKRUPTCY FOUR YEARS AGO – IS HOPING THE MEMBERSHIP ROUTE BRINGS IN THE PARENTS AND KIDS.
IF NOT, THEY COULD GO WITH AUNTIE ANNE’S PRETZELS PLAN TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS: CREATING A PERFUME.
WE TOLD YOU THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS OUT THERE.
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