CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the closure of its locations and left families unable to visit its entertainment venues. The bankruptcy filing, submitted to the Southern District of Texas U.S. Bankruptcy Court, marks another casualty of the global health crisis that has affected countless businesses.

Acquired by private equity firm Apollo Global Management in a 2014 leveraged buyout, CEC Entertainment operates over 600 Chuck E. Cheese outlets and more than 120 Peter Piper Pizza locations across the United States and internationally. The entertainment and leisure sectors have been particularly hard-hit by pandemic-related restrictions, including government-enforced lockdowns and social distancing measures. Though restrictions are beginning to ease, the question remains whether consumers will return to these family-oriented entertainment destinations in significant numbers.

Originally founded as ShowBiz Pizza Place Inc. and renamed CEC Entertainment in 1998, the company now operates venues in 47 U.S. states and 16 countries and territories worldwide. The company was preparing for a public listing through a merger with Leo Holdings Corp. last year, a deal that would have valued CEC at approximately $1.4 billion. However, that plan was abandoned as the pandemic intensified, forcing the company to seek bankruptcy protection in order to restructure and navigate the uncertain economic landscape.

As CEC Entertainment begins its bankruptcy proceedings, it is yet to be seen how the brand will adapt in the post-pandemic world, especially as families continue to adjust to new habits and concerns around safety.