Peter Piper Pizza

Peter Piper Pizza, LLC

Trade name	Peter Piper Pizza
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Pizzeria Restaurant Family entertainment center
Founded	1973; 51 years ago (1973) Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
Founder	Anthony M. "Tony" Cavolo
Headquarters	Phoenix, Arizona , U.S.
Number of locations	129 (Q4 2019)
Area served	United States, Mexico
Key people	Randy Forsythe (president) Jim Brawley (COO) Genaro Perez (CMO)
Products	Pizza Chicken wings Cheesy bread
Services	Arcade games Birthday parties Kiddie rides
Owner	Venture West Group (1992–2007) ACON Investments (2007–2014) Apollo Global Management (2014–2020) Monarch Alternative Capital (2020–Present)
Parent	CEC Entertainment, Inc. (2014–2020) CEC Entertainment, LLC. (2020–present)
Website	peterpiperpizza.com

Peter Piper Pizza, LLC (stylized as peter piper pizza) is an American pizza and entertainment company with locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.

It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CEC Entertainment LLC, which makes it the sister restaurant chain to Chuck E. Cheese. Peter Piper Pizza was sold by private equity firm Apollo Global Management to Monarch Alternative Capital in 2020, as a result of the latter company’s acquisition of CEC Entertainment.^[1][2][3][4]

History

Anthony "Tony" Cavolo founded Peter Piper Pizza in Arizona in 1973. The first Peter Piper opened in Glendale, Arizona. There are 120 restaurants in the United States and Mexico.^[5] In 1995, Peter Piper acquired its hometown competitor Pistol Pete's Pizza.^[6] They were independent until 1992, when Peter Piper Inc. was acquired by The Venture West Group. The company was sold again to ACON Investments in 2007.^[7] Apollo Global Management, owners of CEC Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant chain, acquired the company in October 2014.^[8] CEC Entertainment, Inc., Peter Piper Pizza's parent company, filed for bankruptcy in 2020 due to the significant financial strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[9] But, CEC Entertainment, the owners of Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza chains, emerged from its June bankruptcy under the ownership selling of its lenders led by Monarch Alternative Capital.^[10][11]

Peter Piper Pizza in Avondale, Arizona

In March 2014, Peter Piper Pizza redesigned its logo utilizing a serif font face following an abstract design. The new logo was created by WD Partners as part of an effort "to connect with Gen X and Millennial parents."^[12] The updated design was widely panned.^[13][14]

In February 2022, a new take-out version of Peter Piper Pizza, known as "Peter Piper Pizza Express" opened in Phoenix, Arizona. This version removes the dining rooms and arcades seen in the standard Peter Piper restaurants^[15] A second location would open in Phoenix in June 2022.^[16] A third location would open in Tucson, Arizona between 2022 and 2023.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2023, a new fast-casual version of Peter Piper Pizza known as "Peter Piper Pizzeria" opened in Olathe, Kansas. A second location opened in Kansas City, Missouri in June 2023. Both locations would close by June 2024, with the Kansas City location being converted into a Chuck E. Cheese location.^[17][18]

References

1. Wiles, Angelique Soenarie and Russ. "Chuck E. Cheese buys Phoenix's Peter Piper Pizza". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
2. "Chuck E. Cheese's parent acquires Peter Piper Pizza". Nation's Restaurant News. 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
3. Scurria, Andrew. "Chuck E. Cheese to Leave Bankruptcy With $490 Million Less Debt". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
4. "Chuck E. Cheese parent CEC Entertainment emerges from bankruptcy". Nation's Restaurant News. 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
5. Raiman, Mary (7 November 2017). "Pick the perfect slice at new Peter Piper Pizza in Greenacres". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
6. Ruggles, Ron (21 August 1995). "Peter Piper purchases Pistol Pete's". Nation's Restaurant News. Vol. 29, no. 33. p. 3. ISSN 0028-0518.
7. Hogan, Donna (9 January 2007). "Peter Piper Pizza purchased; price private". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
8. "Chuck E. Cheese buys Phoenix's Peter Piper Pizza". azcentral. October 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
9. Shafer, Ellise (2020-06-25). "Chuck E. Cheese Files for Bankruptcy". Variety. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
10. "Chuck E. Cheese to Leave Bankruptcy With $490 Million Less Debt". wsj.com. December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
11. Fantozzi, Joanna (January 4, 2021). "Chuck E. Cheese parent CEC Entertainment emerges from bankruptcy". nrn.com. Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
12. "Peter Piper Pizza - WD Partners". Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
13. "Brand New: New Logo and Restaurant Design for Peter Piper Pizza". Retrieved 11 July 2016.
14. "8 Major Brands That Went Flat in 2015". Retrieved 11 July 2016.
15. Dean, Grace (February 20, 2022). "Peter Piper Pizza is opening restaurants without its flagship arcades and dining rooms". Business Insider. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
16. "Peter Piper Pizza opens 2nd Express model". www.pizzamarketplace.com. 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
17. Thompson, Jenna (May 11, 2023). "Chuck E. Cheese parent company opens 'mature' pizzeria in JoCo. Another coming to KC". Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
18. Hudnall, David (July 3, 2024). "Pizza place closes its last Kansas City area location. Chuck E. Cheese is moving in". Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 3, 2024.

Further reading

• Peter Piper Pizza 2016 Expansion

External links

• Official website