Don Ciccio's Big Cheese

Don Ciccio’s Big Cheese Pizza & Theatre was a small chain of restaurants in Florida, imitating the business model of Chuck E. Cheese's. Their animatronic show was the Electric Mice Orchestra, and they opened three locations before being bought out by John Phillip Tuba and rebranded to their name and concept.

History / Background

The restaurant was founded by its namesake, Don Ciccio. He was a South Florida businessman who owned several Italian restaurants and night clubs across Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Coral Springs. The first Don Ciccio's Big Cheese restaurant opened in the Spring of 1983, in the Coconut Creek Plaza in Coconut Creek. Advertised to guests was their array of arcade games, pizza, TV room, and of course the animatronic show. The show chosen was the Electric Mice Orchestra, built by Advanced Animations. They had a custom intro skit made, and then played the typical EMO showtapes. The version of the EMO utilized was the smaller 6 piece one stage show, with Baby Styx, Stevie Fingers, Jellie Roll Jackson, BJ McCool, Boots Cassidy (who was given the name “Lead Cat”) and Digger Dan (given the name “Cantankerous Goafer”).

In addition to the animatronic characters, the restaurant also had a mascot affectionately named “The Big Cheese”. Described as a “flamboyant host”, this mouse would come out to parties and personally greet the birthday guest. He also appeared in their logo and on signs. The Big Cheese was a mouse with a big mustache, sash with his name, and beret. His costume was made by Advanced Animations, and had the same face mold as Stevie Fingers from the EMO. Things such as customized birthday plates, napkins, and balloons are mentioned to have been produced, as well as Big Cheese themed pencils, bumper stickers, shirts, and coloring books. No merchandise from the restaurant has ever been seen online.

By the end of 1983, they had opened up two additional locations: in Pembroke Pines and Davie, Florida. Almost no documentation can be found on those other locations, just that they also had the same animatronic show. In December, all three restaurants were bought out by John Phillip Tuba Ice Cream Corp, and rebranded into their Pizza Theater restaurant variations.

Other Don Ciccio’s restaurants continued to operate into the rest of the 80s, curiously still using the Big Cheese mascot character. They even offered the same famous Italian pizza as the Big Cheese restaurants. These other locations have never been proven to have a show though, and there was most likely some legal agreement between Don Ciccio's and John Phillip Tuba Ice Cream Corp that prevented them from opening any similar restaurants (due to competition).

The whereabouts of any of the three EMO shows are unknown. There is a single Digger animatronic that surfaced several years ago that is said to have come from Coconut Creek. Not much else is known about the rest of the characters from that set.

Information & Details

Don Ciccio's Big Cheese
Pine Island Ridge Plaza
8990 State Road 84
Davie, FL 33324

Don Ciccio's Big Cheese
Pembroke Pines Plaza West
9940 Pines Blvd
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

Don Ciccio's Big Cheese
Coconut Creek Plaza
4801 Coconut Creek Parkway
Coconut Creek, FL 33063