Restaurants

Loudoun’s Chuck E. Cheese says it’s not going anywhere

Loudoun’s longtime Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Sterling has a message for its many fans — it’s staying in its current spot for the long haul.

As most of us know, Chuck E. Cheese is a national pizza restaurant and arcade chain aimed at kids ages 2 to 9, and their families. There are more than 600 locations across the country.

The local Chuck E. Cheese in Loudoun County is located at the Dulles Town Center shopping mall, in an freestanding building on the perimeter ring around the center. And therein lies the rub.

There have been multiple media reports, including here on The Burn, that the new owner of the Dulles Town Center wants to build a ring of residential units — such as townhomes or apartments — around the mall.

And that’s true — the mall’s owner Srinivas Chivali — is exploring that option for down the line. But the reports have given some local customers the impression that its happening soon.

“I don’t know where it came from, but there is that perception,” said Susan Jensen, a district manager with Chuck E. Cheese. “We have a lease through 2031 and we’re not going anywhere.”

Yep, Chuck E. Cheese will be in their current spot for a minimum of another six years — and they hope to stay local years beyond that.

“This is a great location,” Jensen said. “The guests at this store are amazing. This is my number one store when it comes to fundraising. We’ve gave $37,000 back to Loudoun County Public Schools in 2024 alone.”

The company has also invested heavily in the local store, spending roughly $250,000 refreshing the exterior and adding a video wall, an interactive dance floor, and a trampoline space inside.

Nationally and at the Sterling store, Chuck E. Cheese has launched a membership program that includes unlimited visits with 40, 100, or 250 game plays built in. Plus, it includes steep discounts on food and other benefits.

The Burn reached out to Chavali, the mall’s owner, about his plans for residential units around the mall versus Chuck E. Cheese’s plans to stay there — and it sounds like both can be true.

The permitting process for the new construction takes time and there is a lot of other space around the mall to focus on first.

“The rezoning process may take another 18 to 24 months (and) after that we start construction in phases,” Chavali told us in an email. “As a landlord, we have to honor the existing leases. So, Chuck E. Cheese will be there until their lease term (ends).”

That’s good news for kids and families who enjoy Chuck E. Cheese and they’ll have even more to like later this spring. Chuck E. Cheese refreshes its games every two years, so new arcade features should be arriving sometime in April.

And in May, the local store is planning to open what it calls its “Adventure Zone.” It’s like an obstacle course or “ninja” course built just for kids.