P.J. Pizzazz

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P.J. Pizzazz was a chain of American family entertainment centers operated by Sega Enterprises.[1] Modeled after Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell's pioneering Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, the first venue opened in June 1980, and billed itself as "The Family Fun Restaurant".

Venue

The chain's mascot P.J.

P.J. Pizzazz venues contained pinball machines, Skee-Ball, and "Hit City", an area where customers could play the latest upright arcade machines. For one token, children could play in a ball pit or bounce in an inflatable bounce house. Pizza was made and served in the restaurant area of the venue, and Dixieland bands, cartoonists and magicians would perform regularly[2]. Also featured were giant television screens for sporting events, films and announcements.[2]

The mascot of P.J. Pizzazz was a simple animatronic robot character named "P.J." who mingled with guests and delivered them personalised messages.[2]

History

The first P.J. Pizzazz was opened in West Covina, California's Eastland Center shopping mall in June 1980. Sega ultimately never managed to franchise P.J. Pizzazz (despite wanting to[3]), though was able to open a second venue in Garden Grove, California in January 1982[4]. A third located in Puente Hills was opened a month later[5] At a press conference held after the opening of Gremlin's new facilities in May 1982, David Rosen claimed Sega were "re-evaluating" P.J. Pizzazz in May 1982[6], with the conclusion assumed to be not to expand further.

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/73271177/P-J-PIZZAZZ
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cash Box, "July 11, 1981" (US; 1981-07-11), page 44
  3. ↑ Cash Box, "July 4, 1981 (Part 2 of 2)" (US; 1981-07-04), page 58
  4. ↑ Cash Box, "January 23, 1982" (US; 1982-01-23), page 43
  5. ↑ Cash Box, "December 26, 1981" (US; 1981-12-26), page 84
  6. ↑ Cash Box, "May 29, 1982" (US; 1982-05-29), page 37


Sega-related venues in the United States
GameWorks
Seattle (1997) | Las Vegas (1997) | Ontario (1997) | Grapevine (1997) | Tempe (1997) | Auburn Hills (1998) | Orange County (1998) | Miami (1999) | Sawgrass Mills (1999) | Chicago (1999) | Columbus (1999) | Irvine (1999) | Lone Tree (199x) | Tampa (2000) | Newport (2002) | Minneapolis (2002) | Long Beach (2003) | Las Vegas at Town Square (201x)
GameWorks Studio
Austin (199x) | City of Industry (199x) | Daytona (199x) | Henderson (199x) | Indianapolis (199x) | Kansas City (199x) | Littleton (199x) | Orlando (199x) | Philadelphia (199x) | San Antonio (199x) | Tucson (199x)
Sega City
Indianapolis (1995) | Cedar Park (1995) | Irvine (1995) | Lone Tree (1996) | Albuquerque (1997) | Baltimore (199x) | San Jose (199x)
Kingdom of Oz
Westminster Mall (19xx) | West Covina Fashion Plaza (19xx) | Puente Hills Mall (19xx) | Old Towne (19xx) | Tanforan Shopping Center (19xx)
Sega Center
Anaheim Plaza (19xx) | Carson Mall (19xx) | Fashion Valley Shopping Center (19xx) | Fox Hills Mall (19xx) | Los Cerritos Center (19xx) | Montclair Plaza (19xx) | Puente Hills Mall (19xx) | Sherman Oaks Galleria (19xx) | Tanforan Shopping Center (19xx)
Sega's Time-Out
Fox Hills Mall (19xx) | Golden Ring Mall (19xx) | Great Northern Mall (19xx) | Time-Out on the Court (19xx)
Sega Station
Boulder Station (1997) | Kansas City (1997) | Sunset Station (1997)
World Sports Grille
Tucson (2008) | Seattle (200x) | Detroit (20xx)
P.J. Pizzazz
Eastland Center (1980) | Garden Grove (1982) | Puente Hills Mall (1982)
Others
Game City (1992) | Grand Slam Canyon (1993) | Midway (1993) | Sega VirtuaLand (1993) | Innoventions (1994) | Sega Speedway (1995) | Stage 35 (xxxx) | Sega Sports at Centerfield (2000)
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