Chuck E. Cheese parent company opens ‘mature’ pizzeria in JoCo. Another coming to KC

The parent company of children’s entertainment chain Chuck E. Cheese has opened its first Peter Piper Pizzeria in Olathe, aiming to satisfy customers of all ages.

CEC Entertainment Inc. opened the restaurant at 15139 W. 119th St. on March 8.

A second location is set to open June 3 in the Restaurant Pavilion at Ward Parkway Center, 8809 State Line Road.

The restaurant is a fast-casual iteration of the 50-year-old pizza brand Peter Piper Pizza, which has several locations in the Southwest and is based in Arizona, said CEO David McKillips.

Unlike Chuck E. Cheese, McKillips says the new restaurant has no animatronics — though customers will find a few arcade games and TVs.

“It’s a much, much different restaurant,” he said. “This is much more of a mature atmosphere, and it has fantastic scratch made pizza.”

CEC Enterntainment also owns Peter Piper Pizza Express, a delivery and carryout restaurant, and Pasqually’s Pizza and Wings, both found out of state.

The Olathe restaurant serves pizza with a variety of toppings, baked in its custom Roto-Flex rotating stone oven, and choosy customers can build their own. The menu includes pasta, salad and wings.

“It’s a great place to have a quick lunch or a sit-down dinner,” McKillips said.

McKillips says the company strategically chose the Kansas City area because it’s one of the top “pizza cities” in the U.S., with fewer pizza restaurants than average but an overwhelming interest.

“It’s in the heart of the country,” he said. “It’s an international city, but really has that local vibe.”

The restaurant serves local craft beers and wine and features murals created by Kansas City artist Chance Hunter.

McKillips hopes Peter Piper Pizzeria will become a local staple and soon move beyond the Midwest.

“It’s a great place for people to come and hang out,” he said. “This is just a unique pizzeria concept that Kansas City doesn’t have yet.”