I went to Chuck E. Cheese as a young kid, but I vastly preferred Leaps and Bounds [1].

Leaps and Bounds had gigantic playgrounds. Tunnels, slides, gigantic net treehouses and overhangs. They were gargantuan. You could take nerf guns and have hours of physical exercise and fun with your friends.

Chuck E. Cheese had arcades, which were outclassed by at-home video games. I never understood the appeal. I'd rather have played Super Mario RPG or Mario 64. Leaps and Bounds locations even had a modest arcade.

When Chuck E Cheese took them over, they ripped out the physical playgrounds and replaced it all with arcades. Major downgrade.

I'd much rather go to an 80's themed neon and blacklight arcade.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaps_and_Bounds_(playplace)